Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the speakers and thank them for their opening statements. I appreciate the importance they are placing on STEM. I come from an arts background but I worked in Science Foundation Ireland for a number of years. It opened my eyes to the different careers available to so many young students and the importance of STEM in many walks of life.

I like the idea that Dr. Kelly mentioned around the multidisciplinary nature of courses we do at third level and potentially how courses could be adapted. I did an arts degree and studied French and history. I taught French afterwards - subbing - I had not done the full HDip at the time. One was able to do that at that time. Perhaps there is a way to bring in one of those subjects. I did biology, for example, for honours leaving certificate. However, it just was not feasible when I did my arts degree. One was not able to pick and choose between arts and a module in science. Does Dr. Kelly have any comments on that? I am curious about that element of somebody going down the arts route in third level, for example, having the opportunity to take on modules. Is that possible? I know in the University of Galway and so on there is an amalgamation now between colleges of engineering, science and medicine. We are seeing them coming together. Particularly, now we are seeing it potentially around our agencies. Our brand new third level department and brand new higher education authority will be funding third level. Can Dr. Kelly comment on that? I might ask the three speakers.