Teresa Costello (Fianna Fail)

I wish to talk about alternative pathways to achieving your dream career and to highlight a remarkable young man whose story proves that success is not defined by a single exam or one rigid path. Liam Nugent, a young man from Tallaght, has recently appeared on RTÉ and Virgin Media to share his journey. He is an inspiring example of what determination and belief in oneself can achieve. While Liam was in school, he experienced significant challenges, leading to a low attendance rate. Though he studied and learned at home, he ultimately did not sit his leaving certificate.

For many, this may have felt like the end of the road, but not for Liam. Liam had a dream to become a heart surgeon. He wanted to make a difference in people’s lives and he refused to let a single missed exam define him or limit that dream. Instead, he enrolled in Greenhills Community College where he completed a pre-university science post leaving certificate, PLC, course, earning nine distinctions. From there, he applied through the CAO and secured a place in DCU to study biotechnology. He is now in his third year of that course. Liam’s journey does not stop there, however. His path to becoming a heart surgeon continues with four years of graduate entry medicine, two years of residency and eight years of surgical training at RCSI. Remarkably, his journey will only take two years longer than the traditional route through the leaving certificate.

Each year, Irish universities allocate a number of places to students like Liam who come through PLC courses. Those courses are deigned to be practical, focused and job specific, offering students the skills to enter the workforce directly or move on to higher education.One of the best parts is that PLCs cover a huge range of study areas, from business and electronics engineering to computing, catering, sport and leisure, and even theatre and stage. Importantly, one does not need a leaving certificate to apply for a PLC. People with relevant work experience or a clear passion and ability in a particular area are often accepted. Liam's story is a powerful reminder that talented people should never be lost to the professions they dream of pursuing, especially not because of a traditional school system or an exam. If you or someone you know is wondering if there is another way forward, the answer is "Yes". Liam Nugent's story proves that.