Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 10:

In page 15, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: “(b) to protect and enhance the public nature of the higher education system;”.

This is about protecting the public nature of higher education, which we have often spoken about. The principle behind this amendment is the most important point that we would like reflected in the Bill. The Bill makes no reference to the public nature of our higher education system. The value of having a public education cannot be overstated. The public nature should not be taken for granted. We have seen the wholesale commercialisation of higher education over the past ten years and, in some cases, piecemeal privatisation. Most people would be shocked to know that more than one third of primary school teachers now trained come from a single for-profit college and the same college is moving into nursing this year.

This represents an opportunity to draw a line in the sand. However, the limited reference to the public sector in the general scheme was taken out. We want the public nature of our higher education system referenced and protected by the Bill. To remove that ambiguity and place strong emphasis on the importance of maintaining a public higher education system, I firmly believe that protecting the public nature of our higher education should be included in primary legislation. Of course, it should be up to the Government of the day to set out the strategy for tertiary education in partnership with the sector. However, this should not, as the Minister implied on Committee Stage, extend to privatising higher education without even having to bring legislation before the Dáil. That is my rationale for the amendment.

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