Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Ní raibh freagra ar bith ón Tánaiste ar an cheist seo. An aontaíonn sé go bhfuil nasc idir fáil ar oideachas agus saoirse na ndaoine? An aontaíonn sé leis an méid a dúirt Thomas Davis, "Educate that you may be free."? Má aontaíonn sé leis sin, an dtacaíonn sé leis an cheart bhunúsach gur cóir go mbeidh fáil ar oideachas ag gach saoránach? Labour's election manifesto stated: "We refuse to go back to the days when only the relatively wealthy could count on going to university or when a family could only afford to send one of their children to college." In the days before the general election the Tánaiste famously signed a pledge, pledging to oppose the reintroduction of fees. The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, was photographed signing the same pledge. Is this worth anything? Is this just another broken promise by the Government to add to the ever-growing list? Third level high quality education is a vital prerequisite to kick-starting economic recovery. Access to education should also be the right of every citizen. The existence or absence of this right is an indicator of the type of society we have. Does the Tánaiste accept that any increase in college fees or additional cuts in student supports will ensure that third level education is not an option for thousands of young people in the State?

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