Averil Power (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The higher education sector in Ireland is at a crossroads. In recent decades there has been a major increase in participation at third level. It is hugely positive that third level education is now within the reach of communities and families in a way that it was not before as a result of having extra places in third level colleges and new pathways other than the CAO, Central Applications Office, system such as PLC, post-leaving certificate, courses. At the same time, there are concerns about the adequacy of public funding for third level institutions and the impact of budget cuts in the past few years on the quality of teaching and learning for students. As some Members stated, there is also concern about our institutions falling in the international university rankings such as those of QS, Quacquarelli Symonds, and the Times Higher Education. I understand that latter concern, but, at the same time, it is worth repeating that many of these league tables have their own failings, overemphasising certain areas and giving no credit to others. For example, our policy priorities in education should be opening up access to third level education, community involvement and the economic contribution of a third level institution to its region. These are not captured by crude league tables. There would be merit in the Minister developing our own league table system to measure what third level institutions are doing against a wider range of policy goals such as access, contribution to the local economy, providing second-chance education places for students with disabilities, adult education and other broader policy priorities. This would be a counterpoint and balance the other rankings that repeatedly are reported on the front pages of all the newspapers but do not capture the full picture.
Participation rates have increased dramatically, but, unfortunately, young people in some areas are still lagging behind. In some parts of Dublin city only 10% to 15% of young people go on to higher education after completing the leaving certificate, while in other areas, the figure is 90%. That is wrong. When in government, Fianna Fáil invested in preschool, primary and second level programmes to help people in area in which traditionally there was poor educational attainment. It takes some time for the benefits to come through, but it is important that the Government redouble it efforts to ensure nobody will be put off from going to college.

The question of whether a young person finishing their leaving certificate gets to go to college should be down to merit and hard work and not just their post code. There is an urgent need to change that as well.

We need to do more with regard to flexible educational opportunities, an area focused on in the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection. We still have a funding model that is very much focused on full-time education at undergraduate level. This makes it difficult for many people such as those who did not go to college in the first place and who do not have an undergraduate degree but who now have a family or are working. The only realistic opportunity they have to get an undergraduate degree is to undertake it on a part-time basis. While we have free full-time undergraduate education, we still have part-time fees which are an obstacle. This should be a priority when funding becomes available. We should be neutral as a State as to whether somebody attains their qualifications during the day, during the evening or at the weekend. We should try to make the system as flexible as possible. There are many opportunities in online third-level education, an issue that has also been discussed in the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection.

I warmly support Senator Barrett's Bill and echo other Members' sentiments about Senator Barrett's contribution to this House. He is a very fine Member who brings a huge level of expertise and experience to our debates in respect of third-level education. This expertise on the part of Members is one of the things this House has going for it - that of Senator Barrett in this area, that of Senator Quinn in business and that of Senator Crown in health. One sees this reflected in the quality of debates we have here. I include my good friend, Senator Norris, who is sitting behind me and with whom I co-operate in many areas, particularly social justice. In that spirit, I ask the Minister to give serious consideration to this Bill. It is a very important piece of legislation. I would like to tease it out on Committee Stage. I agree with the need for individual academic freedom. In particular, lecturers should feel that they are free to say unpopular things or challenge their institutions. While autonomy is a good thing and we should not micro-manage our third-level institutions, third-level institutions need to work in an environment that is delivering on national educational priorities so there is a balance to be struck there.

I understand where Senator Barrett is coming from with regard to tenure. Certainly, the increased casualisation of academic positions both at school, particularly second level where it is next to impossible for young teachers to get a permanent job, and at third level is a big problem. It is a problem in terms of attracting and retaining the best academics who have alternatives and can work in the US and other countries. At the same time, we need to balance permanent contracts with the need to ensure that there is always a requirement to upskill regardless of whether a person is working in a school or college.

In respect of pay scales for academic staff, as Senator Barrett has pointed out, the universities only receive about half of their funding from the State. The other half is private. They often argue that they need to pay more to attract the best people. I understand that and I think it is important that we are able to compete with other institutions abroad. At the same time, there would be a concern to make sure that we do not end up with just a few prestigious people in a university getting paid very well with the result that there is not enough money in the rest of the budget.

All of these issues that the Bill touches on are really important and we could tease them out on Committee Stage. I again thank Senator Barrett for this initiative which is a really useful Bill. I hope the Minister will take it on board. I look forward to hearing her remarks and we can tease out some of the more specific issues on Committee Stage.