Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Page 93 of the programme for Government includes a commitment to improving outcomes for every student. A new report published by the Bertelsmann Foundation reported on today in the Irish media makes very sobering reading. It ranks Ireland 21 out of the 28 countries on educational attainment. A figure I found quite startling is that 80% of the working age population have attained at least upper secondary education. I acknowledge that share has gone up in recent years and I imagine that is something the Minister is examining. However, we are well below the best in the class on this. Will the Minister provide an update on his plans for bringing legislation forward to improve the completion rates for secondary education in Ireland?

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