Ms Nessa White:

Regarding Deputy O'Sullivan's questions and comments, it is important to acknowledge and welcome the support that the committee intends to provide in terms of the league tables. As the Deputy will be aware from her time in the Department, this is something that we have been grappling with for a long time, as it does not reflect the breadth of what we do. As Mr. Donohoe stated, this is about education options and is much broader than just going to college. The sector has been challenging the content and the formula that have been used for a long time.

We have discussed the young females issue at length and I agree with the comments. It is good to have sessions like this one where I can leave with actions for the ETBI to pursue alone or in collaboration with partners. For example, Dr. Smyth mentioned something on which I had just written a note, namely, the transition year programme. Why can we not pursue that in our almost 300 schools? It is an action that we could undertake without waiting for anyone else. That is a positive element that I can take from today. At the six-month point in the job, it is always good to have ideas to focus on for the next year.

On the Chair's questions, ETBs have been fully supported in providing whatever is required to ensure state-of-the-art training facilities. Sometimes, challenges are encountered in the form of planning permission for change of use if the premises are found. In the main, however, that has not been a difficulty. Once a case has been made within the appropriate parameters, agreement has been forthcoming. Our engagement with SOLAS in that regard has been positive.

In terms of the supports that ETBs need, it is probably timely to revert to some of the points that we made at the outset. The role of authorised officers is crucial to the continuing and future expansion of the apprenticeship model. In talking to colleagues on the panel, delays can arise with that role. If the expansion continues at the rate we want, we need the number of authorised officers to grow as well. ETBs can face challenges where they require experts to deliver their programmes. Be it during the good times or bad, if people can be employed in their trades or areas of expertise, attracting and retaining suitably qualified staff can be a challenge for us in light of the salary scales.

The Chair asked about employer incentives. It is important to highlight the current supports and incentives that we provide when working with employers. They may not always be monetary. For example, we have a centralised unit that provides support for the assessment and development of curricula and we have a mentored training initiative whereby we liaise with employers. All of this is new for the post-2016 programmes. We are continuing to work and build on these initiatives. We have received some positive feedback, learned from it and amended and adapted our approach.

Strategic partnerships and changing the apprenticeship model's culture and conditioning have been mentioned. Through our collaboration with the Technological Higher Education Association, THEA, which appeared before the committee last week, on those strategic high-level initiatives, we can make this a pathway for people to choose. Anything is possible right up to PhD level. The partners in the sector are open to considering these initiatives. As Mr. Donohoe stated, bodies sometimes want to mind their own patches and keep what they have, but this is bigger than all of that now and there is a requirement for us to take a wider view.