Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

All is not lost for the Minister of State, to whom I am delighted to pay tribute. I looked back at her public life since 1977. She was an MEP involved in social affairs, youth, sport and education matters. She became Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. I believe, however, she really came into her own when she was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for further education. That was where she showed her real vision and where she shone. She has made the brief her own, as is clear from the effort she has put into the various projects for further education and enhancing the lives of those in need or who are marginalised. I will miss her attending the Seanad, as well as the de Valera name which I have known since I came into the world. I hope it will continue in politics, as I hope the Minister of State will find another challenge after she retires. The de Valera gene is too strong and she cannot just fade away. We will not let her.

Having come from the educational world, I empathise very much with those involved in the area of further education. Globalisation has led to increased competition, new technologies, the upskilling of the workforce and immigration. A large investment must be made in adult education. The Minister of State has increased resources, especially for the National Adult Literacy Agency and the back to education initiatives, Youthreach programmes, post-leaving certificate and VTOS courses. All these courses reach out to people who have slipped through the net and become marginalised and have no ambition or initiative. The Minister of State has made them her own and understood how to get them implemented.

I compliment the VECs throughout Ireland. Having been for many years a teacher in the City of Dublin VEC and a member of the County Dublin VEC, I have a natural feel for programmes such as post-leaving certificate courses and what they achieve for those who cannot find their niche and are in a transitional phase at the age of 14 or 15 years. They help those people to achieve their potential in whatever direction they choose, whether home economics, child care, pre-nursing, handwork, woodwork or mechanical engineering. The Minister of State acknowledged the wide range of these courses and ensured that the funding was available to implement these programmes.

Back to education courses have been provided for those aged between ten and 15 years who slipped through the net. This flexible part-time programme has allowed them to move gradually into the system. It has given many young people self-esteem and confidence. The Minister of State has also considered people who need child care facilities, particularly those who have to bring their children into school. I have seen people bring their children into school where a room has been made available for them by the grants that the Minister of State provided. That is a great programme and I would like to see it further enhanced.

The Minister of State has made the areas of illiteracy and innumeracy her own and put approximately €7 million extra this year into them.