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

If an employer may need leaving certificate attainment, if a young person can come from Youthreach, go into a college of further education and get their qualification there, they are bypassing, so to speak, the leaving certificate. On their ability to get entry to further education and to qualify up to level whatever, I have known, worked alongside, helped and supported many young people who have gone from college in Cavan Institute or wherever on to primary degree and subsequently to postgraduate. That would want to be put aside in people's mind as well. There are other educational attainments that are extremely important as well. That should be recognised.