The students' unions throughout the country which are raising this matter are doing a great job. They should be encouraged to speak louder, to take a sharper interest and to insist on a response. They should point out that it is in the interests of decision-making and power mongers to recognise that in the absence of a throughput of students the future will be bleak. In priding ourselves as the island of saints and scholars, we need to put our investment in scholars. I believe in education.
Education is liberation, it is creativity, it is the way to develop industry.
The first basic economic principle is that one needs a well educated and healthy population. To be well educated, there must be State investment. I ask the Government to support the motion, to move forward and give hope to our students. We have reached the situation where a post-leaving certificate, is only a starter qualification and it needs to be improved upon. The real issue for our economic and social future is investment.