Ireland's membership of the European Union has broadened our horizons, both culturally and socially. Equal pay, equal opportunity, health and safety at work and other entitlements now taken for granted by workers have their origin in EU initiated legislation. European Social Fund, European Regional Development Fund and Structural Fund programmes have had a major impact on the improvement of education and training programmes in Ireland. Particular beneficiaries of such moneys have included our regional technical colleges and FÁS. In 1973 there were only just over 29,000 people attending third level education. In 2000 this figure had increased to 161,000.