Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I heard recently that the best return on investment globally would be achieved by educating women. Many women around the world are not educated. It has been pointed out that the best investment is to educate those who are not educated. I was surprised to see, in a time when we all recognise the need for lifelong learning, that only 7% of Irish people over the age of 18 have a higher education background. This is according to the figures published today. In Sweden, the equivalent figure is 33%. We have a long way to go in encouraging the nation to undertake extra or lifelong education, but it is the best investment we can make. The reason I point out this is that it will give us a competitive advantage in achieving the economic targets we have set out. It is not just education for the sake of education but because it is good value for money. This is something we should study this summer, and we should consider the proposals that have been put forward to ensure many more of our citizens have the chance to participate in further education and not just the education they get at the moment.