Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question and for continually raising this most important matter.

Our further and higher education and research systems represent a critical national asset. That is how they need to be seen. They are a critical national asset which can support the future economic and societal success of our citizens. Increasingly, the battle to live in and create a country that has economic and social cohesion is going to be dependent on the talent and the ingenuity of our people and supporting and investing in that talent and ingenuity.

At the heart of the Department's strategy is the core objective of ensuring everyone, no matter who they are, where they come from, what their gender is or what their mum or dad did, can reach their full potential through education, whether as a school leaver or through lifelong learning. Education is no longer something that is just done for a set period of time until one reaches the age of 18 or 21. It is a journey that continues throughout life. We must get better at lifelong learning and investing in research and innovation.

In terms of the specific issues highlighted by the Deputy, our strategy sets out the Department's ambition to improve transitions to tertiary education for school leavers and to implement a new ten-year strategy to improve literacy, numeracy and digital skills. We live in a country in which one in six adults cannot read or struggles with reading and in which almost 50% of people lack basic digital skills. We have to get very serious about this. We must invest in upskilling and reskilling opportunities in areas of economic growth, such as green and digital skills. Under the leadership of the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, we have developed the new action plan on apprenticeships, and we will put in place a sustainable approach to higher education funding. We are undertaking a national engagement on research and science to create a new national strategy for Ireland. We are growing our international reach, as we want to position Ireland as a leader in higher education and research. I met the European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation about this yesterday. As regards regional development, we are supporting the establishment of technological universities to improve access to higher education and to act as anchors for regional and national innovation and growth. The idea that all roads must lead to Dublin needs to end as well.

I am satisfied that the mandate and mission of my Department are set out in the statement of strategy.

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