Dr. Pauric Travers:

In recent years there has been a major overhaul of teacher education at primary and secondary level. The duration of the training has been extended significantly. Of more significance, the content and focus of the training has changed. This reform has been informed by much research, including research done by the Educational Research Centre. I am familiar with the teacher education programmes in all the colleges, especially at primary level, and there are programmes which make a substantial input regarding diversity, educational disadvantage, early intervention and other such issues.

To go back to Senator Ruane's first question, which I do not believe I answered particularly well, on the relationship between early intervention and PISA, the Educational Research Centre has done substantial research on early intervention. One of the great insights that has come over past decade is that if intervention is not done in early childhood education to solve many of the problems regarding deprivation and educational disadvantage, the problems will be replicated and will continue.

It is good to have an access programme for third level education but if we really want to address the issue, we must go right back to earlier education provision. In fairness, there has been significant developments in early childhood education. There is a need for more and consistent intervention at this level because the earlier the intervention comes, the less likely the issue is to continue.