Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This amendment is almost at the opposite end of some of today's discussion because it suggests that at least 4% of students would enter with an ordinary level leaving certificate. Institutes of technology provide multiple avenues for access to education. I worked for a long time in the south east with young people who were unemployed and many had poor leaving certificates. For example, one young man had entered foster care at the age of 16 and was going through an extremely turbulent time when he did his leaving certificate at 18. For him and for others I worked with knowing that there was a route into higher education through the institutes of technology was crucially important. This young man did not have to wait until he was 23 to apply as a mature student. Having those channels meant people did not lose those years. Many of the institutes do very good work to ensure there are multiple access routes, not just for people from diverse geographical areas but for those with different levels of educational success in the secondary school system.

I want to ensure that as these institutes enter a new phase as universities there are routes for those at that level. It is very important, particularly because the institutes are in different areas and for many people they may present the only visible opportunity for access to higher education. I also spoke to young women who may have had children when they were 16, 17 or 18 and wanted to re-enter education but who for that reason had difficulty around the leaving certificate and other times. They may be balancing caring opportunities in their area. I do recognise that elsewhere in the Bill there is provision for part-time education. This amendment is simply to ensure that those with ordinary level or poor leaving certificates or equivalent will not find the doors of what used to be institutes of technology closed to them.