Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. As Senator Murphy stated, this matter is in good hands with him and the Minister. I have no doubt that they will bring this to fruition in the not-too-distant future.

I was the recipient of the free education and school transport introduced by the then Minister for Education, Donogh O'Malley, in 1967. That was the first year it was available and it was my first year in secondary school. I do not think anybody going to secondary school in 1967 realised the enormity of what Donogh O'Malley had done. We took it for granted. Very few of the people who had gone before us had the opportunity to get an education. This development at third level is on par with what Donogh O'Malley achieved. It will give everybody an opportunity to attend third level in their own region. In the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and probably the 1970s people had to board in secondary schools to get their second level education. Very few people have to go to a boarding school for a second level education now. All of those opportunities are available to people in their own region. That is what this legislation is going to do.

This is also a great opportunity to re-educate people. I feel very sorry for people who lose their seats in these Houses or retire. Some are young people who have been here for ten or 15 years. When they seek employment there is very little out there for them. They see a huge change in the jobs they were doing before. The Houses of the Oireachtas should provide educational opportunities for people who lose their seats to enable them to return to their previous professions, for example, as doctors, solicitors and teachers.