Ms Una Fitzpatrick:

Yes. We are pushing to increase the numbers and get funding to increase them. Again, one of our calls from the National Training Fund is that the new apprentices need to be as supported as the traditional apprentices. Unfortunately, that has not been the case to date.

With regard to the lifelong learning and upskilling aspects, we in Technology Ireland have two skillnets, the Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet and the Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet. As an industry, we are very much committed and involved with regard to lifelong learning, which is really important within the sector to create momentum and drive the changes that are happening. This is a sector in which there are no jobs for life. The job you will be doing in ten years' time probably has not even been developed yet so we fully support the constant need to upskill and reskill. As an industry, we look at all of the different pathways. It is no longer the case that you just do your college degree and then go into the sector. There are multiple alternative pathways into the sector. Probably the most important thing coming out of the sector is that there is no full stop. The technology sector involves lifelong learning and continuous learning because it is constantly changing. That is what is most important.