Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I support the comments made by Senator Quinn regarding the leaving cert applied. Everything he said was correct. We should have a debate on that matter because those who take the leaving cert applied are steering in a direction that is not necessarily academic. Therefore, there must be an avenue for them to access the institutions.

We should also have a debate on general education within the secondary and tertiary level. The vocational schools played an important function in equipping people for various trades within the workforce but they have been gradually changing and now replicate other second level institutions. I wonder whether this is the right direction. I do not claim to be a specialist in education but we could have a useful discussion so that those with more expert opinions could put forward their views. The future of the economy will be built on our approach to education. Everyone recognises that.

I am very familiar with the road to which Senators refer. I have a choice of three roads when driving to Dublin. I can come via the regional roads through Tullow and Blessington, I can take the coast road or I can use the M9.