Ray Butler (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Eddie Wade and his team for attending. I want to follow on from Senator Fidelma Healy Eames's comments on third level. There used to be a show years ago whose tagline was "Points mean prizes". I speak now as a parent whose son is in Maynooth studying computer science. In 2011, 350 points were required for entry to computer science at Maynooth while 400 points were required for the same course in Trinity. In 2012, Maynooth was 400 points and Trinity was 450. Between 2008 and 2011, 325 points would have got one in anywhere to study computer science. Given that points mean prizes, is it that there are not enough spaces available in colleges, and do we need more? Companies cannot find enough people to work in this sector. Some of these young people are being snapped up by companies in their third year.

We really do have to look at third level education. Many of my son's friends thought they would be able to get into the likes of NUI Maynooth on 350 points but unfortunately the points went up to 400 so they had to go back and do another year. Boys will be boys. They will do just enough to get the points and many of them were very disappointed because they thought they had enough points to get into college. Will it be 500 or 550 points to get into Trinity College next year when companies are crying out for a level pitch. I echo Senator Healy Eames' sentiments. As parents we have to examine this. Where are we going?