Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 28 March 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills

The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed)

Mr. Neil McDonnell:

Yes. That is a perennial issue. We have a helpline where people ring in and raise issues. Part of it is a competition and remuneration issue. SMEs find themselves in intense competition with either large enterprises or the State sector. Down the country, the semi-State or State sectors, or the local authorities, typically will have a considerably better package available than many small enterprises. It is a competition and a cost issue for them.