Feargal Quinn (Independent)

She stated that while this may not solve the problem of hunger this year, women who have received an education will be able to educate their children. Education is not given the recognition it deserves in terms of the opportunities it provides to solve problems domestically and around the world.

Investment in education must be made a priority if we are to succeed in meeting our national aspirations. Current policies do not reflect this position and educational expenditure is not adequately prioritised in the national development plan. Either we begin to recognise that education is our first national priority or the money we are pouring into building new roads and other physical infrastructure will be largely wasted. The only way we will be able to successfully compete in the world of tomorrow is through the quality of our people. We must pay a high price to achieve this objective.

For some years, I had the rewarding task of chairing the leaving certificate applied committee. This examination was introduced because too many people were being left behind in the education system. By the time those who find themselves at the back of the class at age seven, eight or nine years reach 14 or 15 years they discover they are unable to catch up. The leaving certificate applied was brilliant because it operated on the basis that instead of measuring intelligence in a three-hour examination at the end of sixth year, it would nurture other skills and types of intelligence. The objective was to avoid leaving people behind as currently occurs in the education system. We need lifelong learning both for those who have been left behind and for those who have received a good education as it enables them to improve their skills as they go through life.