Mr. William Beausang:

We are absolutely committed to having a better evaluation framework. In terms of our engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform it is very important that we can demonstrate the investments made are effective. I would not describe this as anecdotal evidence but we get a very strong consensus view back from industry that the spend that is happening under the NTF is generating good quality graduates, whether it is from further education and training, FET, from higher education, HE, or apprenticeships, who are meeting our labour demand needs as much as they can do in a full employment economy. There is obviously, in the environment we are in, sometimes a confusion between skills requirements and labour force or workforce issues that play out. It is important to distinguish between them. I agree with the Deputy's contribution that we need a stronger framework to reinforce what we already know, that investment in education and training yields very high returns but we need to demonstrate what those returns are.