Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am glad the Senator has put down this amendment, not that I am accepting it, but because it is important to say in the House that there will be different pathways into education. I have 31 years' experience in education and I know, and have met, many students who have matured as they have gone through education, who have come through colleges of further education and gone on at a later stage in their lives to do bachelors degrees, masters and indeed to do PhDs. I also realise there are many students who have a bad day or days sitting the leaving certificate. That should not cut off those pathways.

It is in the Bill, section 9(1)(a), page 11, provides the teaching and learning that, "promotes excellence at all levels of higher education within the [national] Framework [of qualification]". This addresses the Senator's point because it requires the provision of education and training that reflect the needs of individuals and to, "provide for the broad education, intellectual and personal development of students". Equity in access to higher education is a fundamental principle of Irish education policy. The higher education systems performance framework is a key instrument that oversees progress towards goals, objectives and targets in the national access plan and broader access strategies. The new system performance framework is in place for 2018 to 2020. I hope the Senator knows that is what we are doing and feels confident that the answer I have given proves that is the foundation of what we are doing.