Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief because there are others who have not yet contributed.

I want to touch briefly on recommendations 26 and 30 and the importance of that gender neutral career information, but also the impact that having a lack of variety of options to study at second level is having an impact on third level. We heard from the third level sector. This is something that it has recognised as a serious issue, particularly around gender stereotyping. From the work that they do and from their perspective, how many students are taking additional classes outside of the school setting because where they go to school does not have the resources or does not provide the courses or the subject that they want to do to pursue in third level? Would they give us an idea of the prevalence of this in their experience? For example, how many females want to engineering or woodwork, or vice versain a traditionally female dominated area? Are there young men or non-binary students similarly affected? From their perspective, and seeing learners continue on through the education spectrum, what impact is this having on people positively engaging with lifelong learning?