Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will begin with the last question. I agree there is too much emphasis on third level and during the boom years or over the past 20 years we have probably turned our backs on the further education and training sector. I sense that most people recognise now we must correct that and the Department is trying to do so. From talking to career guidance teachers, to teachers in general and to employers, I believe most people now believe we need a blend of further education and training along with higher education. We need that blend to manage the problem with the skills gap as we know jobs are being created that we cannot fill. They will only be filled by providing the skills through a combination of higher education and further education and training. We are trying to correct the situation and have a five-year plan, developed by SOLAS, which should address the issue. There has been significant reform in the sector and SOLAS and our educational training boards, ETBs, are driving that agenda.

The challenge facing us is to convince parents, decision makers and students that there are options and many different routes to developing a career and obtaining the qualifications needed.

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