Dáil debates

Thursday, 2 June 2022

Higher Education Investment and Costs: Statements

 

2:45 pm

Photo of Ruairi Ó MurchúRuairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I see that. I was not able to make it to this obviously very important event, especially for those graduating. I will embarrass a number of people in my family now, but there is a logic to where I am going. My son, Conor, attends another Louth and Meath Education and Training Board, LMETB, school, Ó Fiaich College. I have to thank to it for the work it has done. Our Conor, a bit like myself, has taken a circuitous route in his schooling. However, he has seen my stepson, Aaron, do a post-leaving certificate course in Ó Fiaich College and go on to Dundalk Institute of Technology, DkIT. That is a route map. Those are the sort of route maps on which we very much need to work. It is incredibly important. I have spoken to the Minister before about possible projects such as the Redeemer centre, where people may feel more comfortable in starting certain modules before they go to Ó Fiaich College or other institutes. That is vital.

It would not be a conversation on third level education in Dundalk without mentioning TU status. We know the race that has been run previously. I know the Minister is supportive. We need to ensure that it happens. We know there have been many missteps but section 38 is there. There is a route map towards it. I have spoken recently to the Minister about a possible wobble around the criteria and the relationship with Dublin City University, DCU. We need to ensure that nothing hampers us on that road.

Workforce planning is vital work about which we have spoken previously. Many Members have spoken about the issues with regard to occupational therapists speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and the particular issue with regard to psychologists and ensuring that our disability networks and entire medical system have the staff required. There is a job of work that needs done at Government level, and it needs to be followed through at third level. We need to ensure that we can deliver on what is absolutely required.

I echo much of what has been said with regard to connectivity and early interventions that need done to deal with disadvantage. It is absolute necessity. We have failed many people. We need to reintroduce free third level education, as quickly as it can be done, but there are many people who fall off the education wagon long before that. It means we need to put a considerable sum of money into early community and family interventions.

If we are talking about the cost-of-living crisis, we have to deal with the cost of education. We have deal with the wider cost of accommodation, but what needs to happen relatively fast is in terms of the cheaper rate for public transport that has been introduced. We need notification of it for the likes of private operators, such as Matthews Coaches, which many people use for third level transport. Knowing that as early as possible prior to September and the new academic year is absolutely necessary.

We are back to normality. I have to make two events being held in Dundalk. One of them is taking place at Coláiste Ghlór na Mara, a satellite school that is being launched this evening. Alongside that, my youngest son, Toirleach, will be graduating from St. Joseph's National School. I have named everyone at this stage. We will also be going to an event this evening for Amy Broadhurst, who, like me, is a graduate of St. Joseph's National School. She is also now a world champion boxer.

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