Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I always had misgivings about changing the titles of the institutes of technology. I had a difficulty when they changed from regional technical colleges to institutes of technology. Now we are moving to the next stage to technological universities. I always felt, as someone who had come late to education, that by putting in the word "university", we made it another exclusive institution. I have visited the various institutes of technology around the country. In Carlow, one will find the finest courses in aircraft engineering and maintenance. In Waterford, one will find fantastic IT systems. In Letterkenny, one will find marvellous catering courses. In Galway, the institute's interaction with technical teachers is second to none.

In taking the name "technological universities", I would like to be assured that the apprenticeship side of education stays with us. Ideally, I would like to see us moving towards the Finnish model where one can travel on two streams and, as my colleague Senator Coffey said, one can then move from one stream to the other. Accordingly, an apprentice bricklayer, for example, is not stopped at level 6 but can get to a level 9 on the national qualifications framework and have a doctorate in his or her specific skill.

When we move to the technological university designation, I do not want to see us lose our relationship with the practical skills about which Senator Coffey spoke. I do not want the young guy or girl who would be a great carpenter or bricklayer feel he or she cannot go to a technological university because it is all about academia. The Minister of State and I spoke about this a long time before she was ever Minister when she was a great supporter of further education. I know she understands what I am talking about. I am putting this on the record for the presidents of the institutes who are sitting in the Gallery to remind them that apprenticeships are vital to this country. I applaud the work they do. However, when they change the names of the institutes, they should not change their ethos.They should continue to do what they are doing.