Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
105. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress to date in advancing collaboration on a North/South basis in the provision of further education throughout this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26398/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther Education Institutions, North and South, have a long history of collaboration, and I am very committed to the promotion of maintenance and strengthening of these relationships, as well as encouraging the development of new collaborations.
While my Department does not have oversight of the operation of these relationships on a day-to-day basis, I would like to cite the strong collaboration between Donegal ETB and the North West Regional College in Derry as part of the recently established North-West Tertiary Education Cluster. Together with Atlantic Technological University (Donegal) and University of Ulster Derry Campus, this exemplar offers a model to all education and training providers which promotes the development of initiatives such as joint programmes across each of the partners as well as seeking to respond to skills demands on a cross border basis.
Furthermore, my officials have been working with their counterparts on specific initiatives as part of the EU PEACE PLUS intervention on skills. Underpinned by €50 million in funding, this action line offers education and training providers an opportunity develop innovative responses upskilling and re-skilling demands in the programme areas (Northern Ireland and the Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth). I understand that the Special EU Programmes Body will be hosting a workshop on this proposal in Dungannon on 8th June 2023.
I am also pleased to note that Accounting Technicians Ireland (ATI) is involved in two cross-border apprenticeship programmes – namely the Accounting Technician and Accounting Technologist. The former is already available, and is currently being delivered in further education institutions, North and South. The Accounting Technologist Apprenticeship is going through the undergoing the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) approval process, with the occupational profile to be submitted to its June meeting.
