Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for sharing time on this hugely important issue. As he will be aware, I was recently honoured to be appointed by An Taoiseach, Deputy Martin, as Chair of the Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. I look forward to working with the Minister responsible, the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, and the committee members from across these Houses to add our voices to the future of this sector.

The importance of this sector cannot be underestimated. Investing in education is an investment in our economy. Expanding access and excellence in further and higher education has been a core priority for Fianna Fáil for much of our party’s history. As the Minister mentioned, it goes back to the 1940s when Éamon de Valera established the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. It was transformative and we have a positive and proud record. Now, 85 years on, let us make another impact.

Our continued social and economic progress relies on a skilled workforce. We must be focused on equipping young people and those returning to education with the necessary tools to achieve this. Creating diverse training and education opportunities through apprenticeships and further and higher education sectors, North and South, is important. By acknowledging the transformative power of higher and further education, research and skills, we can unlock the crucial economic enablers that will give this country the skills it needs to be the leader we want it to be. To say I am ambitious for this sector and what it can achieve is an understatement. We are in a rapidly evolving world. As we navigate through a period of profound change driven by technological advancements and shifting economic and political landscapes, it is more important than ever to recognise the pivotal role education and innovation will play in driving economic growth, fostering competitiveness and creating sustainable prosperity. We have a responsibility to find the ways that foster and cultivate talent and create the environment that will drive innovation and research.

On that note, I am very glad today that the Minister has received Cabinet approval for a global talent initiative that will see investment in attracting top academics and researchers to Ireland. It is exciting to read that the Minister is actively focusing on the areas of research and innovation, medical technology, renewables and food technology. It is a huge opportunity for us. I ask, and the Minister touched on this in his contribution, that as part of this package, the Government commit to invest in research equipment. Currently, a lot of the infrastructure is outdated and, as the Minister rightly said, there is a real need, as recognised in the programme for Government, for a new programme for research in third level institutions, PRTLI. It is needed to provide integrated financial support for research. Research infrastructure is the foundation for a high-performing innovation system. Without it, talent, ideas and investment cannot translate into a national impact. Currently, we do not have the infrastructure to support the growing ambition to tackle and address the challenges from health and AI to climate to culture and public policy. Targeted investment in renewing high-value equipment would unlock capacity quickly. This is low risk and high return. Infrastructure will enable research excellence, support enterprise, drive innovation and attract EU and private co-funding.

We know the talent is there. Young people, and everyone else, are hungry to learn. They are fascinated by how things work, how problems get solved and how they can make a difference. We are seeing this in action. Just recently, the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, announced €6.5 million in funding for over 40 STEM engagement initiatives. One brilliant example is the all-Ireland STEM passport for inclusion, which is supporting over 5,000 students, particularly girls and students from DEIS schools. Once students choose a path, we need them to stay on it and thrive. This means tackling the high dropout rates head on. It means recognising that the cost-of-living crisis, the lack of affordable accommodation and the mounting pressure are real barriers for students. If we want them to succeed, we need to ease those burdens so they can focus not on survival, but on thriving and innovating.

Of course, none of this exists in a vacuum. We need a broader ecosystem that supports not only education but also innovation and employment. This is why increased investment in research and development is so critical. We want our graduates not just to have degrees but to have world-class opportunities here at home to innovate, lead and help shape the Ireland of tomorrow.

Skills development and workforce planning is another essential pillar of economic empowerment in the face of changing demands. We have a huge skills shortfall. It is essential the Minister leads a body of work that highlights these gaps and looks to future gaps we do not even know about yet to ensure we plan to fill them by investing in our tertiary education offerings and improving our economic outcomes. We should also look at our existing institutions, including Dundalk Institute of Technology and Louth and Meath Education and Training Board. We can really create the opportunities. I look forward to seeing the Minister's policies create opportunities. I also look forward to working with the Minister and Minister of State on these issues.

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