Written answers

Thursday, 2 February 2017

Department of Education and Skills

Brexit Issues

Photo of Carol NolanCarol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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121. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the main concerns of the education sector as discussed in the sectoral dialogues on Brexit; the steps his Department proposes to take in addressing these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5011/17]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department held an Education Stakeholder Forum on Brexit on 14 November 2016 to outline plans for the Department’s ongoing engagement with the sector in its preparations for the Brexit negotiation phase. Following this plenary event my Department convened consultation fora for the schools sector, the further education and training sector and the higher education and research sector. These events facilitated the widest possible involvement of stakeholders across our education system and facilitated my Department in achieving a fuller understanding of their issues and concerns as we continue to plan for the UK’s exit from the EU. The following table outlines the main points of concern that were raised at the sectoral events.

Input from all three education sectors is being analysed and will feed into preparations for the next All-Island Civic Dialogue on 17 February 2017. The Department is continuing to develop and refine scenario plans for Brexit and the impact on the education sector. A further meeting of the Education and Research Subgroup of the Economy and Trade Work Group chaired by my Department is proposed for February.

Brexit Sectoral Consultation EventMain points raised
Primary and Secondary Education Sector

Dublin, 23 January 2017
- Responding to ethnic and religious diversity in post-Brexit Ireland

- Cross-border learner access to education

- Teacher mobility/recognition of qualifications

- Planning/Economic/Financial impacts

- Continuity of institutional framework for North-South cooperation

- Continuity of European Union funding for cross-border programmes
Further Education and Training Sector

Dublin, 14 December 2016
- The economy/trade

- The Common Travel Area – movement of people

- Future of the EU/EU funding

- Northern Ireland – North-South Cooperation

- Protection of vulnerable citizens
Higher Education and Research Sector

Dundalk, 19 December 2016
- Impact on research collaboration and partnerships between education institutions and enterprise

- Impacts on North-South collaboration

- Threats and opportunities for research funding

- Implications for Government investment policy

- Implications for UK/Ireland student flows

- Impact on UK/Ireland mobility, and career development of academic staff

- Implications for international profile and reputation of Higher Education institutions

- Possible consequences for the mutual recognition of qualifications

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