Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I was not fortunate enough to go to university but I realise the importance of doing so and the critical difference third level education makes to the economic and social future of our country. It is a driver of social mobility.

Each year we are educating more children with less money. I have enormous respect for the thousands of teachers, lecturers and assistants who work to educate our children. Parents throughout the country are dedicated to providing a better life for children. Most hope for this and work hard to ensure their children will have a better life than they had. It is up to this Government to work with them towards securing their children's future by fixing the budgetary mess that was left behind for us. We recognise there are problems with SUSI. Last night the Minister apologised and I welcome the manner in which he spoke. He recognised the difficulties in getting it to work. Having worked with the City of Dublin VEC for many years, I know Jacinta Stewart and her staff will move heaven and earth to fix these problems and provide students with their grants. If there is anything I can do I will assist them. There were similar issues around the centralisation process for medical cards. The system adapted and changed and the problems were fixed. I hope and believe this is the last time we will see these problems with SUSI.

This country is in the grip of a very great economic crisis. This year we are borrowing almost €14 billion more than we raised in taxes in order to maintain services. The Opposition fails to recognise the radical reforms that are taking place in education even given the need to reduce expenditure in the coming budget by at least €70 million. The Government is committed to maintaining the number of special needs assistants and is spending €1.3 billion per year on special needs education. There is a countrywide schools building programme that will ensure students of the future will have the classrooms they need. There is investment in local jobs and communities. When I was a councillor we used to look into fields where classrooms had been promised. Now, during the biggest economic recession, this Government is starting to provide the classrooms needed for the next generation. That is what planning means.

We are overhauling the junior certificate to make it fit for purpose for the 21st century, something that has been talked about for decades. We are rolling out high-speed broadband in schools throughout the country, connecting pupils to the world. The Minister, Deputy Quinn, is committed to improving literacy and numeracy skills, the building blocks of any education system. As an urban Deputy I have seen those factors ignored in many underprivileged areas. People did not have an opportunity to have a proper second level education, never mind getting inside the precious gates of universities, which I believe to be their right.

Deputy Nolan referred to the USI campaign. As a Deputy who has been targeted by it, I welcome the campaign. I hope it broadens out further so we can fight the battle for everybody to have access to education. I have spoken to many students who came to see me. The vast majority have spoken about a vision for education in the future. They have a broader vision that goes beyond the current problem, and I have come away wiser. However, I must tell them the truth. I tell them registration fees will increase by €250 each year until 2015, when they will reach €3,000. I tell them I will work to try to maintain that limit because there is a need for certainty. I tell them we are committed to ensuring that more than 40% of students will qualify for a maintenance grant and will not pay registration fees. I tell them our current budget deficit is 8.5% of GDP, which means that we are borrowing almost €14 million more than tax revenue in order to fund day-to-day expenditure. Every extra euro we borrow is money they and their children will have to pay in national debt. I tell them my priority is to ensure that the maximum amount of resources are targeted at primary and second level schools, which I have seen ignored for decades in my community. I have seen young children beginning their secondary education with no literacy skills. Too many students from disadvantaged backgrounds in my community fall behind in all the early stages and never have the opportunity to reach third level education. This is where I want to see the scarce resources targeted.

It is better to be honest and up-front about the difficult decisions we must take as a party in order to restore our country's fortune during a time of deep economic recession. Deputy McConalogue moved this motion in good faith. There are many good young Fianna Fáil Deputies with a clear vision for the future.

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