Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Absolutely. We are very proud of it. There is so much employment there and so many students have done very well out of it. More than 100 master's, honours and ordinary degrees and higher certificate courses are available at the Institute of Technology, Carlow. As well as traditional degree courses, it also offers niche courses. Many of them are the first of their kind in Ireland. For example, its Centre for Aerospace Engineering has an avionics workshop and a fleet of aircraft inside its own hangar. I am sure the Minister of State is aware of it. The Bachelor of Engineering in aircraft systems is the only one of its kind in Ireland and we are so proud of it. The Institute of Technology, Carlow was also the first third level institute in Ireland to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in computer games development. This course was developed with the assistance and endorsement of Microsoft. Education gives students great opportunity. The institute's degree programme in brewing and distilling development, which is associated with Walsh Whiskey Distillery, is the only honours degree of its kind in Ireland. It is one of only four degrees globally that are recognised by the Institute of Brewing and Distilling.

IT Carlow is already leading the way and with the Bill it will be allowed to stretch further. We need to look to the future. It also brings Ireland forward in allowing a wide range of third level options for students.