Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

By the end of the second decade of this century we will have to examine how we can get much more with less, in particular, how we can utilise distance learning and on-line participation through different institutions offering the same type of on-line activities. For example, County Meath Vocational Education Committee has developed a system of teaching applied mathematics from a single centre across the various second level VEC schools in the county. I recently visited Longwood VEC school which has, with the consent and co-operation of parents, supplied students with iPads in which all the books and written material they require are available electronically.

Given the resource constraints we face and with which the Deputy is more than familiar, we must find new ways of delivering as well as economies within the system. I do not wish to convey the impression that we can fund the additional growth through internal economies and innovations alone. We must find additional net resources, which is what I have asked the Higher Education Authority to identify.

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