Mary White (Fianna Fail)

The strategy of the Government is to have a knowledge-based economy as well as an education system with a bright future. We need to devise a strategy of diverse funding and alternatives to public funding. We need to make private funding not just an idea but a reality if we want future generations educated in our world-class system.

One of the most critical questions concerns how we will compete internationally. Our aspiration is to have 70% of the second level cohort entering third level education. At present, only 60% are doing so. Some 40% of young people cannot afford to participate in third level education.