Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have the misfortune of having to follow Senator McDowell. He makes a pertinent point in two parts. I congratulate Senator Dolan on the work she has done in the committee on the Bill bur it needs further parsing and teasing out. Perhaps if Senator McDowell reviews section 68, it may answer some of his questions. I was reading this the other night. I was wondering why, to my mind and from that initial cursory reading, we were giving huge power to the chief executive. Then I note in section 68 a provision on the appointment of a reviewer of a designated institution of higher education. I wonder if this addresses Senator McDowell’s points. Maybe it does not. Section 68(9) states that “An tÚdarás shall consider the final report”. However, being an educationalist, I note that there is a board of management of a school and there is a governing body. There needs to be transparent autonomy that allows for whatever determinations that are made to be clearly laid out. I would always be concerned if the power is vested in a single person, whoever that person may be.

By the same token, and I apologise that I cannot find the answer to this, can the Minister answer a question on the composition of the governing body of University College Cork? Are the lord mayor and other councillors still included in that position? I hope that this is not taken away. If they are not included that would present a serious problem. I would be completely and diametrically opposed to removing the lord mayor of Cork from the governing body of University College Cork. I mean that. I think that would be a wrong move. It would take away a tradition that has served the university well. I would hope that we can change that.

In saying all that, I welcome the Minister to the House and commend him on the work that he has been doing in the Department. Tonight, we are here to discuss an important aspect of the work that he is doing. We must try to ensure that the cost of putting students through college is reduced.On "Morning Ireland" earlier, the Minister gave me huge hope and confidence and supplied a breath of fresh air. I thank him for that. The cost of putting students through college is far too high. The Government must and will help to assist students and their families. As the Minister indicated, and it is in the preamble to the legislation, the trajectory of people attending college has grown exponentially. That has been quite evident in many of our university cities and towns. I am very fortunate to come from Cork, where we have a very fine institution, University College Cork, and the equally fine Munster Technological University, formerly Cork Institute of Technology.

I thank all the people involved in the administration and teaching of third level education. Our higher education system has changed so much since I was in it. I welcome the innovative changes that have taken place. Equality of access is important. I remember the day the former Minister for Education, Niamh Bhreathnach, and then Taoiseach, John Bruton, announced free education at third level. Unfortunately, that pathway to third level education has not been as equitable as we would have liked and hoped to see when it was launched on that momentous day.

Not everybody can go to third level. That is why what the Minister is doing as regards the apprenticeship programme is absolutely critical. I say that as somebody who taught the leaving certificate applied and recognises the totality of our education system, the wholeness of it and the fragility of the student who struggles and ends up trying to do leaving certificate plus but is not able to. The Minister is correct that we have let apprenticeships lie for a decade. What he is doing with apprenticeships is fantastic. This morning's announcement regarding the different types of apprenticeships and their development is one all in this House should support. We should work with the Minister to ensure we support the key areas in which we need people and that the issue is addressed in the context of the whole-of-government approach.

I will also refer to the increased places the Minister has offered in Munster Technological University and University College Cork. I am looking to see where Munster Technological University is in the list of new places. University College Cork has been given 51 places, but I am wondering if I missed Munster Technological University. If I did so, I stand corrected. I do not see it on the list, however. If it is not there, why is that the case?

I thank the Minister for this important Bill. I have a couple of concerns that I will come back to on Committee Stage because I am very passionate about education. The Minister's contribution to higher education makes this a good day. I thank his officials. Today's announcement of 1,000 extra college places and the development of a new apprenticeship programme is one we should celebrate. We should work to ensure we put career pathways in place for people on both paths.