Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join in the welcome to Senator Craughwell.

He is a native of Galway. When he first approached me to vote for him in the Seanad by-election he said he wanted to test the democratic process in the Seanad. He certainly tested it. The road was rocky and uncertain but he has prevailed. I congratulate him.

Senator Craughwell’s presence in this House is also remarkable because he left school at the age of 16. He educated himself through the lifelong education process, a system that we now promote every day to our young people and went on to become the president of the Teachers Union of Ireland, TUI. By any stretch of the imagination that is a remarkable achievement. I have no doubt that he will bring much of that expertise, experience and diversity to this House. I wish him well and will be happy to work with him.

It is good news that we will have a positive budget today. The people of Ireland deserve it. I am particularly delighted to hear that there have to be more teachers because of the increasing birth and enrolment rates. One group of teachers I did not hear much about are guidance counsellors at second level. They are completely stretched. Could this House have a word in the ear of the Minister for Education and Skills? That is vital. Almost one third of first year students at institutes of technology drop out. Over 10% of first year university students drop out. One significant reason for this is poor course choice and lack of appropriate career guidance.