Liam Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail)

I will not refer to further education today, as every time I speak in the Chamber I seem to refer to further education. I will restrain myself today on that score.

Adult education today is not seen as a separate and fragmented silo. Everything in education is geared to see it as a partnership of equals and not the separate entities referred to by Senator Ulick Burke. Everybody contributes their own professional input which results in an adult education sector that is integrated and inclusive for every sector of the community. It is not segregated.

The White Paper on adult education — the only one on adult education in the history of the State — that was initiated by the former Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy O'Dea, has elucidated that adult education must be viewed differently to the past. Senator Ulick Burke seems to be returning to the past. It is now seen holistically, with each part in the educational journey from pre-school up to and including third level and adult education knitting into other sectors. This results in lifelong learning in its truest meaning. I would hate to go back on the other road. The Minister has no intention of doing so, and everything she has done so far has projected the vision I seek to articulate.

It is important to acknowledge people who have been traditionally excluded from the educational system, both formal and informal. These are people with disabilities or who, through no fault of their own, had to opt out of education. This may have been because of a lack of money or opportunity. The problem may have been geographical, as people may live in very remote areas. People may also have child care issues that were never dealt with. They may also have had to care for aging parents, and as carers they may not have been free to look after their own needs.

Everybody is now included. The Minister of State and the Government have seen that those people who need education, regardless of means, can access it. We are supporting them through the Minister and the Government.