Brendan Ryan (Labour)

Universal free access to education at all levels is a matter of right. The fact that some who are very rich gain access to free education is not an issue. We never spoke about charging rich people for primary education because to do so would be daft. For 20 years we have not spoken about charging rich people for secondary education. If they wish to pay for education, let them attend private schools and if the Minister is so concerned about social justice, he should stop paying the salaries of teachers in elitist fee-paying secondary schools. Will he respond to this as my radical friend who is concerned about social justice? Why should we pay the salaries of teachers in Belvedere, Clongowes, CBC Cork and Presentation College, Cork other than to support privilege and elitist education? If the Minister wishes to do something about social justice, he should start there and leave third level education alone.

The Minister should stop threatening people. It is a reflection of the remoteness of the Government that it does not understand that ordinary people have to budget to pay for their children to attend third level. Ordinary people—