Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The continued growth of the higher education sector has led to the need for a dedicated Minister and Department in charge. I supported and welcomed last year the inclusion of apprenticeship courses in the Central Applications Office, CAO, process, which is an important step towards encouraging people into the trades, in line with European norms. There is progress with the technological university of the south east. I know the Minister has been supportive of the project and I welcome the progress that he and his Department are making towards the 1 May deadline. The university will be fully up and running, with, as soon as possible thereafter, a campus for County Wexford.

There benefits of the project and the university are worth repeating. The costs for students from Wexford and other south-east counties of having to go to university in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, or further afield is obvious. These costs are often prohibitive. Having a university in the south east may help to alleviate this. Investment in the area is helped by having a university presence. Private companies want to invest in areas where there is a workforce with the necessary skills and qualifications. The number of IDA Ireland jobs in Wexford is far below what it should be per capita. There may be a number of contributing factors causing this, but there is no doubt that our lack of a university is part of the problem. For a county with such amazing access to the UK and continental Europe, it is amazing that it is not promoted more prominently by IDA Ireland.

The core objectives outlined by the Bill are important, with the overall aim of providing a high quality, student focused system with appropriate oversight and accountability to underpin public confidence of stakeholders, students and the public. One area of concern, which is not just an issue in Ireland, but is a growing problem worldwide is the protection of freedom of speech. Ideas should be debated openly and voices of those who are willing to challenge prevailing views should be heard, no matter how unpopular, controversial, or unpalatable they may seem to some. Our third level sector should be a hotbed of debate, diversity of opinion and inquiring minds. Those values must be protected. The Higher Education Authority has an important role here. Section 47 mentions lifelong and flexible learning. It states that An tÚdarás will promote and support designated institutions of higher education in the development and provision of lifelong and flexible learning.

As someone who completed a degree as a part-time student, I was very grateful to be able to study in the evening in a way which allowed me to continue working. The nine-to-five college day certainly does not suit everyone and there are many people who would love to be able to continue their learning while holding down a full-time job. It is a challenge but our third level institutions go to great lengths to cater to people in this position.

I ask the Minister to give some consideration to those students who have not taken up their course and who will be competing with those who got predicted grades. It is an issue and it may prohibit some from gaining access to college and, unfortunately, they are some years away from being mature students. We do not want to lose these people to emigration. I would like to see us concentrating on finding a solution that will ensure that we can retain our own professionals here.

See this speech in context