Education and Skills

Oral Answers to Questions – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:00 pm on 6 May 2014.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Alex Maskey Alex Maskey Sinn Féin 2:00, 6 May 2014

8. asked the Minister for Employment and Learning for an update on his recent meeting with the Minister for Education and Skills. (AQO 6050/11-15)

Photo of Stephen Farry Stephen Farry Alliance

During our most recent meeting, I discussed with Minister Quinn a number of areas where there could be greater cross-border collaboration.  We discussed the issue of student flows and, whilst recognising that a growth in student mobility in general is beneficial, we noted that there are current imbalances that need to be addressed.  My officials are currently working with colleagues in the South on a study researching student flows.

It was agreed that there is a particular issue with further education in the Derry and Donegal area that requires particular attention.  It would appear that a lack of provision at certain levels in Donegal may be a contributing factor.  We agreed that my officials will collate and share relevant information with their counterparts in the Department of Education and Skills as a first step and will explore ways to address the imbalance, including looking at alternative funding opportunities.

Work to address potential barriers to higher education student mobility in both directions is being taken forward, and a system is now in place to address the financial needs of students. 

The issue of A-level equivalences is a contributing factor to the low number of Northern Ireland students considering higher education in the South.  The Irish Universities Association continues to consider the position at a strategic level.  However, a number of universities are considering interim measures to attract Northern Ireland students.  Ruairi Quinn and I have agreed that an interim paper on cross-border further education issues should be prepared for consideration by Ministers in a North/South ministerial context in June.

I will continue to meet Minister Quinn to discuss progress, and my officials will continue to work closely with our counterparts in the South on those and other cross-border issues.

Photo of Alex Maskey Alex Maskey Sinn Féin

Go raibh maith agat arís, a LeasCheann Comhairle.  I thank the Minister for his response.  Has he given any consideration to, or made any assessment of, the opportunities presented by the McAleese scholarships at Dublin City University (DCU) to encourage more students from the North to travel to the South for further education?

Photo of Stephen Farry Stephen Farry Alliance

I thank the Member for his supplementary.  I very much welcome the initiative of the McAleese scholarships.  In the absence of a formal policy approach across the board from the Irish Universities Association, individual universities are taking action to progress the issue.  I think that a number of them are conscious that they have very few students from Northern Ireland and that, in particular, the existing students tend to be concentrated in Dublin.  By implication, some of the other universities have very small numbers of students from Northern Ireland.  So the McAleese scholarships are an important initiative.  They also send a wider signal to the rest of the sector and reflect some of the good work happening at Trinity and university college Galway.

Photo of Gregory Campbell Gregory Campbell DUP

As the economies in both countries, Northern Ireland and the Republic, pick up at different levels, what communication and discussion will the Minister have with his counterpart in the Irish Republic so that, if a particular skill set or skill base is here but the jobs are in, for example, the greater Dublin area, more advantage can be taken of that skills base, even though the employment might be required in the Republic?

Photo of Stephen Farry Stephen Farry Alliance

I thank the Member for his question.  We have discussed how we can utilise existing skills bases and develop further specialisms on a cross-border or all-island basis to facilitate the creation of jobs in both jurisdictions.  We are living in a fast-changing economic situation.  We know that the level of development and cooperation on those matters across the border is probably seriously underdeveloped.  The same applies to, for example, research, where there is considerable potential for collaboration between Northern and Southern universities. 

I am hopeful that our groundbreaking announcement in December about North/South cooperation on research will provide us with a platform.  We also need to look proactively at Horizon 2020.  Having a good foundation for collaboration is important in accessing bids.  There is a lot that we can do to the benefit of each of our economies through collaboration on skills and research.

Photo of Danny Kinahan Danny Kinahan UUP

In light of what the Minister just told us, what grouping of people does he take with him to these meetings?  How many from the Department of Education does that include?  How often do you meet and link with the Minister so that rather than just you talking to the Education and Skills Minister, our Education Minister is included?

Photo of Stephen Farry Stephen Farry Alliance

As the Member will appreciate, my Department is not part of the formal North/South ministerial structures.  There is a wider debate to be had on those, and that has been out there for quite some time.  Regardless of the particular structures, I am more than happy to collaborate further on a North/South and bilateral basis with my colleague.  Ministerial meetings happen frequently.  Officials, including those at senior level, also meet frequently.  I compare notes with my colleague the Minister of Education, John O'Dowd.  Indeed, the last meeting that we had with Ruairi Quinn coincided with a more formal meeting between John O'Dowd and Ruairi Quinn, so we are all in the same building at the same time.