Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have a small number of questions in the same vein. As politicians, we are often asked for funding. I do not want to be the spoilsport, but I am asking a very serious question. Different sectors and organisations are coming with a begging bowl looking for money. The witnesses are experts in the educational field. That is why they are before us today. Why is the higher education sector more important than, for example, saving the life of a person who is suffering from cystic fibrosis, or whatever it might be, in an acute hospital? They are the questions that I am asked if I am in a radio debate. I do not think there is anybody that does not want more funding for education, but there are so many asks out there. While it is a spend, it is an investment for the future to attract foreign direct investment, FDI, and everything like that.

I have been a huge advocate for the South East Technological University, SETU, looking at the geography of the south east and where we are located in County Wexford. We have been told by IDA Ireland that one of the reasons that we cannot attract FDI to Wexford and the south east is because we do not have a third-level education facility. That is particularly true in respect of County Wexford, and less so in respect of counties Waterford and Carlow. Now we have ticked that box. We have the infrastructure and the roads and everything like that. We have bypasses straight into Enniscorthy and fantastic infrastructure. I will be after the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and the Government in general, looking for investment for infrastructure into the all the campuses of the SETU, including the campuses in Carlow, Wexford and Waterford. It is really important because we are behind in the south east. The number of people who do their leaving certificate and do not go on to further or higher education but go straight into the workplace is absolutely staggering. How do I make that argument? I am not just saying that it is an investment. There is something behind it as well. I mentioned the idea of attracting FDI. I would like the witnesses' views on that issue.