Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Information on third-level feeder schools has been published in almost every national newspaper today and it makes for interesting reading. The data highlight the advantages and disadvantages in terms of what is happening in second-level education and the students who are continuing into third-level education.

It should be acknowledged that more schools are sending their pupils to third-level education, so real progress is being made in educational opportunities, despite the deep recession. Such opportunities are spread across society and families that historically could not have sent their children to third-level education, now have a greater chance of doing so. These matters deserve to be acknowledged.

There are other aspects involved in the transition from second to third-level education. One can see from the league tables that students attending fee-paying schools are more likely to attend college. Private schools, of which there are more than 50 in the State, have a 100% record of moving their students on to third-level education, but that is not the whole story. The report goes on to confirm that schools with higher numbers of disadvantaged students continue to send fewer pupils to college. Whatever progress has been made, we still have a situation whereby the State provides a subsidy of approximately €100 million to a small number of private schools - some 50 plus. The Government has continued to do so in the three budgets it has passed in this House.

Fairness in education is a principle worth campaigning and fighting for. Education should not be denied to people because of where they are born or because of their family circumstances. Third-level education should not be a preserve of privileged people who have the money to afford it.

Students attending private schools are guaranteed that they will go to a third-level college. That guarantee is not in the gift of disadvantaged families, however. Some of them get through but a greater number are left outside the third-level sector. We will have to address this.

Last week, we had a debate - which is still taking place - about top-ups totalling €3 million in the health sector. All guidelines for health CEOs and managers should be adhered to. However, we cannot oppose top-ups while at the same time providing a top-up of €100 million to private schools. It is a contradiction.

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