Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)

I want to see a country where the education needs of the citizenry are recognised and funded, where potential is realised and cost savings are made through lower crime rates, lower incarceration costs and a healthier, more literate and more creative population. That is not just my vision; it is the vision of many education partners the length and breadth of the island. It is clear, however — Opposition Deputies might listen to this aspect — that we need another Tallaght strategy, this time on education. There must be cross-party agreement that investment is needed, that this issue is beyond point-scoring and that any short-term pain will be addressed in the medium term. Would that not be a legacy for the elected representatives of today to look forward to?

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