Madam, – Deputy Ruairí Quinn has called for Fás to be abolished and its budget diverted to the institutes of technology (Breaking News, September 3rd). While I share the deputy’s frustration with the running of Fás, it is, I believe, a serious mistake to think that it can easily be replaced.
Just as the institutes of technology and the universities have different and complementary roles, so Fás fills a vital slot in the educational landscape. No other body has the same combination of guidance, staged training, and technical options. We need it, we need it to work well, accountably and efficiently, and we need it more than ever now as the economy crumbles. The only chance for many people to get the skills they need is Fás, or something very like it.
TDs need to hold Fás, and the rest of the education sector, accountable for delivery, and efficiency. Soundbite policies got us into the present mess, but will not suffice to get us out of it. – Yours, etc,