Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Mr. Donohoe is chair of his grouping and, therefore, I ask him about the importance of apprenticeships. We had a conversation here a number of weeks ago with other witnesses. I am delighted that apprenticeships are part of the CAO process but before that if a young person was not completing the form or talking about it, he or she would not be part of the peer group. Apprenticeships coming into the CAO process will make them more enticing for many people.

Have the witnesses any comments on the importance of transition year? Is there any scope for part of the transition year to be part of a final assessment for the leaving certificate? It is a really important year. Listening to a number of witnesses over the past number of weeks, the importance of the transition year has come through. We can see the learning and common sense that students gain and they can see different options they may not have considered previously. I am interested in comments on that.

It is one thing to say we will double the number of apprenticeships but we visited the technological university facilities at Cork and Limerick and people there spoke about pressures on those facilities. Much investment is needed in colleges if we are to double the number of apprenticeships and take a serious look at the number of apprenticeships we have and need.