Mr. Tim Horgan:

We are in this situation because of the sick and ill nature of craft apprenticeship delivery, which is employer-led. As the economy changes, the number of apprentices employed changes as well. As a result, it is difficult for us to predict numbers coming through the system. Currently, we have a serious lack of space, as the committee members have seen. While the quality of training and education is superb, unfortunately, the infrastructure dates back to 1974 and it has not really been modified since. We have been asked to increase the number of craft apprenticeships coming through the system. We have responded. Yet, at present we have approximately 274 hours of teaching online because we simply do not have the physical space to bring craft apprentices on campus. That might be an indication of the pressure we are under at the moment. Our labs and workshops are overcrowded in terms of space and equipment. There are no recreational areas for students. These are the current pressures. With increased numbers coming through, we are at a maximum and cannot go beyond numbers we have at the moment.

Given that we are the largest provider, I am worried about how we can respond to the increased numbers coming through. Over time, we have worked closely with the further education colleges in Cork, in particular, the Cork Training Centre in Bishopstown, where we have looked to share facilities. We believe that that is an option where we could co-locate workshops and labs to benefit both the further education, FE, sector and the higher education, HE, sector. There are multiple other benefits as well. There is the fact that as a TU, we can offer to apprentices who graduate from our university a qualification that is internationally recognised. In addition, and this is a really important point, it allows pathways for apprentices through from level 6 to level 10.

In a nutshell, to answer the Chairman’s question, we need funding for infrastructure to deliver the needed buildings, facilities and workshops. As well as this, a closer integration with a strategy around the co-locating and co-delivery of programmes with the FE sector is a wise way to invest in the future of craft apprentices.