Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I also wish to raise the issue of the education system at third level in particular, which is not always adequately focused on where job opportunities might be. The two areas that come to mind as I speak are information technology and foreign languages in particular and if I may, I will focus on the latter. Last year, 567 jobs were listed by gradireland.com that needed a second foreign language. However, such jobs cannot in the main be filled by Irish graduates, only 25% of whom master a first foreign language, that is, a single foreign language. This is the lowest percentage in the European Union although it has been known for many years that people here are extremely poor at learning languages. In recent days, the German Embassy has informed me that jobs are available both in German companies located here and in Germany that require German. We have also seen the interest the Chinese market in this country. There must be a debate about the number of languages that can be made available to post-junior certificate students who have an acumen in the learning of languages. Unless such opportunities are made available at that level and at university, they will be unable to take up such jobs and opportunities. This is a serious matter because we are trying to get jobs for young people and to curb emigration in the face of current levels of joblessness. Let us tackle it at the root - in the education system. We are asking the Minister for Education and Skills to debate many things in this House.