Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Deputy to consider what we are doing. We are seeking to act across the entire perspective, including upskilling not only those going in to college, but those who need further education and life-long learners as well. We are investing in apprenticeships and improving the quality of methodology of learning within our higher and further education sectors. We are improving access for pupils who come to the sector with a disadvantage. We are increasing the investment in research in order that we use our education sector to trigger all of the improvements we can make throughout our community.

We are making this an important priority but we need to look afresh at the funding models. I do not agree that the funding model which has been in place forever should be left unaltered. We need to examine it to see whether it is fit for purpose. That is what we are doing as part of the review. The review will be available in April and it will inform our investment strategy for 2018 and 2019. We are committed to this area. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has been clear, and the Minister and I are committed to investment in this sector.

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