Mary Henry (Independent)

I welcome the Minister to the House. He is as committed to his task as he was in his previous Department. He is welcome to set out the great achievements of the previous Government in education, but it would have been sad if, during what the Taoiseach described as one of the golden ages of Ireland, there had not been increased investment in education at a time of unprecedented prosperity. It has been pointed out by Ministers and others that our great prosperity was due to our efforts to educate many, particularly at third level.

I attended third level when less than 10% of those who completed second level managed to continue their education whereas nowadays almost 50% of students who complete second level take up a third level place. There has been a dramatic increase in the uptake of third level places. Sometimes we are apt to forget that primary and secondary education is extraordinarily important also because one cannot reach third level without completing these levels. I am glad the Minister concentrated on both.