Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In Professor McGuinness's paper, he stated:

More recent research has found evidence of educational downgrading in both regions, whereby a person’s educational attainment actually falls below that of their parents.

I am shocked with that research. In our role, we mix with people. We are very much up to date with what is going on in our communities and across our constituencies. Far more people are getting better educational attainment today than their parents got. I think of the community I live in. Deputy Tully and I represent the same two counties and I am sure for our Cathaoirleach in the Border region and his own county of Louth and most people nowadays, after second level, if they do not go on to higher education, they go on to further education or an apprenticeship. There are very few people going straight into work today with their leaving certificate. In my knowledge from mixing around with people – there is nothing scientific about what I am saying – I am absolutely shocked by that piece of analysis.