The Irish workforce's strong foundation has been referenced frequently throughout this debate. We have one of the youngest and most educated workforces in Europe and continue to attract significant investment because of that, particularly in high-value sectors such as med tech and ICT. Galway has become a global leader in medical technology, employing thousands in companies that export worldwide. Within the city, we are conscious of its importance and we want to develop it further and to create a workforce in the city and the region that can facilitate that growing sector. I do not think that success in the med tech sector - we are also enjoying some development in the whole tech sector - in Galway emerged in isolation. It is deep-rooted in Galway in that the city has a strong creative and cultural identity and a strong tradition in the creative arts going back some time. We are well known for the traditional Irish arts but, even in more recent years, the range and spectrum of artistic endeavour in Galway city is ever growing. That is one of the things that has created this innovation in science and technology in the city. It is fuelled by that creativity. For that reason, it is important our approach to research and education be balanced. While investment in STEM is hugely important and will ensure we have the workforce to fill the jobs I speak of, we must also support other areas of research and academic endeavour, such as humanities, the arts, history and sociology. These disciplines develop creativity, critical thinking and cultural confidence, and that is vital to a functioning and creative society and economy. Is mian liom ceist a ardú faoi na deiseanna atá ar fáil – nó easpa deiseanna atá ann faoi láthair – chun staidéar a dhéanamh trí mheán na Gaeilge ag an tríú leibhéal. Labhraíonn muid go rialta ag an gcoiste Gaeilge agus ag an gcoiste ardoideachais agus breisoideachais agus deirimid nach bhfuil go leor deiseanna faoi láthair do dhaoine a bhfuil an Ghaeilge acu mar chéadtheanga staidéar a dhéanamh trí mheán na Gaeilge ag an tríú leibhéal. Caithfidh muid breathnú air seo. Ní hamháin gur rud teanga é seo, ach is é an rud ceart é. Dá dtógfaí mé le Gaeilge, ba cheart go mbeadh na deiseanna agam staidéar a dhéanamh trí mheán na Gaeilge ag gach leibhéal oideachais – ag leibhéil na bunscoile agus meánscoile agus ag an tríú leibhéal chomh maith. Níl na deiseanna sin ann faoi láthair. Ba cheart dúinn breathnú air sin, go háirithe má tá muid dáiríre faoin sprioc atá againn go mbeidh 20% den earnáil phoiblí in ann Gaeilge a labhairt go líofa faoi 2030. Caithfidh muid a bheith cinnte go bhfuil an córas oideachais agus an córas oiliúna in ann an sprioc sin a bhaint amach. Another local development that is crucial to the advancement of the education sector and the realisation of the skill development we want to see in the country, particularly in Galway, is the college of further education that is being proposed by the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board. We met recently with the board and the Minister, Deputy Lawless, met with the executive of the GRETB. There are very exciting plans there. The further education sector has become a real option for young people on their conclusion of secondary school. We need to provide the facilities to match those opportunities. The Galway college of further education is an exciting development. The proposed building is based on the Tuam Road in Galway. It would expand access to training and skill development, support regional economic development and strengthen the links between education and enterprise. I will not say there are barriers or impediments. It is progressing but the pace of progress from concept to reality is slower than we would like. We would like to think development could be quicker. I know the members of the executive of the GRETB are anxious to progress it. I do not think they would be offended by my saying they are becoming a little bit frustrated by the assessment process it must go through before they are given the green light to develop the facility. Will the Minister of State discuss that with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and the Department of further and higher education, so that the project comes to fruition at the earliest opportunity? There is another thing that, in a general sense, it is important to raise during this debate. Participation in lifelong learning in Ireland lags behind other EU countries. We still have this sense that education is solely for young people and while it is most advantageous for young people to avail of it as early as they can in life, we still need to turn the dial somewhat to give people the opportunities throughout their lives for educational enhancement, skill development and personal enhancement because one core aspect of the education system at every level - primary, secondary and third - should be the development of the person. Whatever skills they learn will be their vocation in life. We need to teach young people, and all people, that all those cross-curricular, or transversal skills as they are called in the third level and further education sectors, such as personal skills, personal well-being, critical thinking and how to work together as part of a team, are hugely important. They create good employees and good members of society as well. One of the debates we had at the higher education committee recently was about the area of assistive technology in the third level sector. It was interesting to hear from some of those working in the sector and the discussion around how they feel that young people may not have the level of digital literacy skills that we may have taken for granted that they do have and how they find that it is necessary to train young people in that area. That is hugely important. One of the things they spoke about was how different operating systems and platforms demand different skills and young people who are able to manage one platform or operating system are challenged by others. Examining that issue is important too.

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