Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I compliment the leaders of the various parties who invited the Minister, Deputy Harney, yesterday and the methodology that was used whereby she took questions. As a new Member, I was disillusioned by the statements on crime or education whereby a Minister made a statement and then left without listening to people and without fielding their questions. If the methodology used yesterday could be taken up for the future, it would be most worthwhile because it gives some sense of accountability in the system.

I draw attention to the headline of the lead story today in the Irish Independent, "Fee-paying schools dominate race for university". There is nothing new in this. This has been going on for years because there is a two-tier system in education at second level. Private schools can cherry-pick their students. They have an enrolment policy whereby they decide who they allow to enrol. They also have the advantage of taking fees. Grind schools and private schools will help the children who can access that system.

The fallout is that 20% of children are underperforming at second level across the system and 65% are underperforming——