Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)

I agree with Deputy John Connolly. We always need to keep education in its broadest sense in mind. Fundamentally, it is about ensuring people can reach their full potential regardless of the area. Notwithstanding that, it remains a strategic consideration for any Government, particularly in the current context. Regarding Ireland's competitiveness, it is crucial that we ensure that Ireland continues to be seen as a place with a high-quality, skilled workforce in terms of graduates, apprenticeships and across the board.

My engagements with people in the third level sector have primarily been with those in UCC and MTU. There is a feeling that the days of being able to do more with less are gone. If there was space to stretch the budget, it has now reached the point at which things are very definitely going to suffer in terms of the quality of education and the ability to attract students. It is at a tipping point. If it ever was possible to do more with less, that is certainly gone. The funding deficits are significant barriers on the capital side of things - the fabric of some of buildings and how lots of these places that are very old and obsolete - and, in certain respects, on the student experience.

It is incredible to call it a free fees scheme when it costs €3,000. I said last week in respect of another issue that it seemed incredible how Government parties had been able to get away with throwing around very expensive commitments on fees, the means test for carer's allowance and issues like the occupied territories Bill during the election only for them to be completely forgotten about afterwards.

I will flag some of my hobby horses with the new Minister in the time I have left. One of the biggest obstacles in some of the most in-demand apprenticeship courses, such as electricians and instrumentation, is being able to find instructors. Competing with the private sector is very challenging for ETBs and the technological universities that provide those courses. It is a significant challenge and needs to be looked at with industry. There also needs to be a discussion with small tradespersons. I know we are talking apprenticeships and trades in the broadest sense, but the traditional craft trades are important. It is difficult for small tradespeople to take on apprentices - certainly, they perceive it to be difficult - for a number of reasons, one of which is the block release and the fact that people feel they lose this person who has been working with them for five or six weeks at a time.. Whatever the solutions are, there needs to be a direct dialogue with small tradespeople in some mechanism.

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