Mr. Peter Davitt:

We need more than a campaign. We need to recognise the different routes of education and learning. I started off as bricklayer. That is where I derive my confidence in the apprenticeship programme. The best way to learn is to learn by doing under the guidance of an expert. That is what apprenticeship ultimately try to deliver. I think we have to address collectively this imbalance of perception of the value of one level of provision as against another provision. We then have to showcase the opportunities. There is an opportunity for example on the new apprenticeship website to profile more careers that can attract a variety of different people into it. There are policy and communication issues and appropriate progression pathways must be created. One point made earlier is that we have to have a much more dynamic career guidance delivery. Let me recount my personal experience. Two years ago, my daughter was in sixth year and sitting the leaving certificate. When I went to the parent-teacher meeting, there was no conversation beyond third level. It was explained how one might get to Trinity College, DIT or DCU but there was no conversation about FET provision or PLCs and there definitely was no conversation around apprenticeships. That issue of parity of esteem must be addressed in modern-day Ireland.