Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If a school believes it has been unfairly treated, we will review the decision.Senator Ardagh asked why postal codes would be relevant. It is if some child was left out - if, for some reason, the child's name and postal code was not provided. It is the postal code that identifies the statistical data they would go to collect. If a child was left out, it is important that not only the name but the identifying code be included so that could trigger the data. It is to review things in case inaccuracies occurred. It is not a political or administrative decision where judgment is applied and where that judgment could be questioned. It was simply an exercise in the numbers and what they told.

A number of speakers raised the issue of Brexit. It is an area where we have opportunities as well as threats in terms of research and attracting more overseas students. The provision regarding two years after study is available to all students, not just Indian students. There are opportunities in light of the UK decision in terms of attracting more researchers to base themselves in Ireland and more foreign students to come to Ireland so, by and large, it is a matter of upside opportunities on the education side rather than many downside ones. There are many other challenges created by Brexit. Opportunities will not fall into our lap. We must make sure that we are effective in developing programmes to avail of those opportunities.