Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

Other Senators have largely covered the matters I wished to raise. I ask the Minister and the Department to reconsider this issue. The idea that the right to education no longer applies once a person turns 18 years does not fit in with reality on the ground. Most students will complete second level education at the age of 19 years as a result of transition year and the policy of many primary schools of accepting children from the age of five years, a trend which is likely to continue.

People have a right to free third level education provided they obtain a place. We are trying to promote the idea of lifelong learning. The constitutional right to education until the age of 18 years is outdated in practice. For this reason alone, but also for the reasons outlined by other Senators, including the different circumstances of persons with special needs or disabilities and the need to ensure they are properly provided for in terms of educational provision, we need to move the goalposts on this issue.

Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 and other amendments have been ruled out of order because they impose a charge on the Revenue. Given that the legislation also imposes a charge on the Revenue by providing rights for children aged under 18 years, I do not understand the reason our amendments were disallowed.