Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to have third level education behind me. Young people watching this debate will have heard the likes of Deputy Jim O'Callaghan saying students could pay back college fees when they are in their 40s, but people in my generation cannot even afford a house. It is ever so daunting a conversation we are having. As for looking at the European level and trying to compare ourselves with Europe, let us start with where we are as a nation and comparing levels within Ireland. Professor Hegarty rightly pointed to the 16% participation rate in Ballyfermot. I am a Ballyfermot woman myself. Actually, that figure has risen through the years. In 2009, it was only 7%. That increase is positive. The rate in Dublin 6, however, is 99%. Let us look at how the education system works as a whole. I know Deputy Farrell was talking about how great it is, but it is good for the few, not for the many.

That leads me to my question. Do our guests believe the current funding model addresses the diversity of needs when it comes to marginalised communities? I refer to students who not only struggle to access third level education but also experience many other barriers when they do get that access. Some degrees require financial and social capital for students to progress and reach their potential. Even when a student from a marginalised community has access, he or she may not be able to go on and become a solicitor or barrister because of the requirements relating to that course. In terms of figures, the Traveller community makes up 1% of the population, with 40,000 Travellers in Ireland, yet less than 1% of Travellers go on to third level education. Do our guests believe the right measures and funding are in place for people from ethnic minority groups or marginalised communities?

On DEIS schools, is there enough funding in the context of reinforcing quotas for DEIS schools? Are young people getting the equality of education that is being delivered in other European countries? A solution suggested earlier is to fix the system. That would involve investment in the education system for all young people. We are falling miles behind other European countries when it comes to investment in the education system.