Mr. Eamon Dennehy:

I am not aware of a perfect one. It is a human system. Even the ones we point to get criticised from time to time. One is dealing with people with multiple points of view on what the education system should be and how they perform within it. I am all for research, finding out how things are done properly and looking at other countries to see where excellent education is available. We then must look at how that fits in our system, if we are to change it. If there is to be change, however, it must be based on proper research appropriate for the Irish situation. It has to be appropriate for what we are doing here. The key issue is the lack of funding. I have been making that point. It affects everything, such as teacher training, special needs provision and guidance counselling. In spite of that, the system is working. There is 93% completion in the leaving certificate. I wonder, if we pumped significant money into it, as we propose to do with the new system about which I do not know anything yet, how much better would it perform?