John Connolly
Galway West · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“The decision of the Government to purchase the Hammerson site on O'Connell Street - the site of the old Carlton Cinema - clearly shows the intent and determination of the Government to progress and complete the MetroLink project.”
“I mention one such community organisation in my constituency, Connemara Care, which provides home care and support for the elderly, people with disabilities, and people with dementia.”
“I had been aware that the deceased man had been diagnosed with dementia some years earlier. When I expressed my condolences to my friend, his response really struck me. He said that this was the second time they had lost their father.”
“If we can look at training more people in this area and promoting this as a profession, it might help. A concern has been brought to my attention but I do not want to imply wrongdoing on anyone's behalf. A family asked me to get clarity. They were provided with home care hours to be provided by a private company.”
“Families want to support that wish for their own loved ones and I know that across the House, Government and Opposition want to support this. Our health service should be structured to support that. However, in the correspondence that we have received, concerns have emerged regarding the availability of HSE home support services.”
“Cuirfidh mé tús le m'óráid leis an méid ar chríochnaigh an Teachta Aird leis. Molaim an tAire Stáit go bhfuil sé anseo le linn na díospóireachta ar fad. Tá sé anseo ag fanacht. Ní dheachaigh sé amach as an Seomra.”
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“They have been aware for over ten years now that their homes and lands are subject to this process and that they will have to move on. It is important that we move on this at the earliest opportunity for those families and for the good of the project.”
“The decision of the Government to purchase the Hammerson site on O'Connell Street - the site of the old Carlton Cinema - clearly shows the intent and determination of the Government to progress and complete the MetroLink project. Hopefully, the intent and determination are not limited to MetroLink or to other transport projects within the Dublin area. As the Taoiseach will know, I am referring to the Galway city ring road, which has been granted planning permission. However, that grant is subject to judicial review, which could derail the project. The city cannot countenance that, and the region needs this project urgently. There are also approximately 50 families who are subject to the compulsory purchase order, CPO, process. I ask that there would be an early settlement strategy for those families.”
“My understanding is that this unit has been developed to replace the existing unit 5 and unit 6 at Merlin Park, which I understand are to be decommissioned. I would like that to be reviewed. I have a direct plea that we retain units 5 and 6 for the additional capacity of community nursing beds that would provide. These units are currently operating well. The buildings seem to be in good condition. One of them provides short-term respite care and the other provides longer term care. I know some of the staff, and I believe that local HSE officials would like to see the buildings retained for community nursing beds. I ask the Minister of State that we look at that.”
“Moves are afoot to maximise the capacity of Áras Mhic Dara at An Cheathrú Rua - in fairness, the Minister of State pushed that and I welcome it - by recruiting additional staff. This is welcome, although I point out that the recruitment process is not straightforward. It seems to be quite complex and difficult to recruit the staff. The HSE is also progressing a new 40-bed community nursing unit at St. Anne's in Clifden, which will include ten dementia-specific beds. Again, this is very welcome. I want to discuss the building of a new 60-bed community nursing unit at Merlin Park Hospital campus in Galway. This facility will provide 60 single en suite bedrooms. It will be a state-of-the-art, top-class facility, including a ten-bed dementia unit.”
“I mention one such community organisation in my constituency, Connemara Care, which provides home care and support for the elderly, people with disabilities, and people with dementia. I would love to see Government policy creating a system that favours and promotes the community care model, such as that offered by Connemara Care, where many of the people calling to provide the care are neighbours or people well-known to the person who needs the care. It is a lovely model. We must be conscious that not all families or situations will be suitable for home care support. In a similar manner to what we were hearing in relation to the available hours of home care support, my constituency office is contacted frequently by families seeking nursing home care. In my constituency, we need to increase the number of community nursing beds.”
“If we can look at training more people in this area and promoting this as a profession, it might help. A concern has been brought to my attention but I do not want to imply wrongdoing on anyone's behalf. A family asked me to get clarity. They were provided with home care hours to be provided by a private company. That company advised the family that it did not have the staff to provide the care. The family told me they were concerned that despite not receiving the care, the company may still be receiving the money from the HSE. As I said, I do not want to imply any wrongdoing but it is a fair point and fair question that needs some clarity. If the Minister of State could provide clarity, I would appreciate it. I would like to advocate for the community-based home care services and provision.”
“Families want to support that wish for their own loved ones and I know that across the House, Government and Opposition want to support this. Our health service should be structured to support that. However, in the correspondence that we have received, concerns have emerged regarding the availability of HSE home support services. Emails indicate that funding has been exhausted in some areas, resulting in new home support packages being delayed, restricted, or prioritised only for those assessed as having the most acute clinical needs. These concerns are not new to us. In my constituency office, like many others I am sure, we get frequent correspondence from families who are seeking home care hours. One challenge for these agencies appears to be the attraction and retention of staff.”
“Galway will also be the location of one of two new regional specialist memory clinics. Development of these two services appear to be on time in their provision and they are very welcome, and I hope to see both of these new services leading to enhanced treatment and better health outcomes for patients diagnosed with dementia in my county and indeed the greater western region. In the correspondence we received from members of the community and advocates in the lead-up to this debate, there has been a focus on the provision of home care support. For most people living with dementia, as we heard from many contributors, the overwhelming wish of people is to remain in their own home, in familiar surroundings with their families and loved ones.”
“I had been aware that the deceased man had been diagnosed with dementia some years earlier. When I expressed my condolences to my friend, his response really struck me. He said that this was the second time they had lost their father. I said I was struck by that, and it brought home to me the emotional challenge for a family of seeing a loved one suffering from dementia. I commend the contributions of Deputies Carrigy, Tóibín and Lawlor, who related their personal stories to us. I thought they were very powerful. I welcome much of what the Minister of State said about the Government's commitment to assist patients and their families. I welcome the funding provided to open memory assessment and support services. One of those services is proposed for Galway and I look forward to it opening, please God, in 2026.”
“Cuirfidh mé tús le m'óráid leis an méid ar chríochnaigh an Teachta Aird leis. Molaim an tAire Stáit go bhfuil sé anseo le linn na díospóireachta ar fad. Tá sé anseo ag fanacht. Ní dheachaigh sé amach as an Seomra. Taispeánann sé an meas atá aige ar an ábhar agus an méid cúraim atá air agus ar a bheirt chomhghleacaithe taobh thiar de go bhfuil siad ag fanacht linn chomh maith le haghaidh na díospóireachta ar fad. Is maith an rud é sin. I am glad of the opportunity to participate in the debate. These debates, where we focus on one particular issue, allow us to inform ourselves better about the issues impacting on people who suffer from dementia and indeed their loved ones and families. I recall on one occasion attending the funeral of a father of a friend of mine.”
“While it is an improvement on the previous facility, it is considered temporary. When we have the new additional bed blocks in the new hospital, perhaps we will be able to increase capacity there. In the intervening period, a minor injury unit would help a lot. I welcome the clarity today that it is being considered. I am happy with the Minister of State's advice and I will take this issue up with local health officials. In fairness to them, they give public representatives opportunities to meet them quarterly to discuss capital projects. The next time I meet them, I will certainly stress that this project is particularly important for the city, county and region.”
“If we could develop this unit and drive this project in a quicker timeframe, it would help to alleviate some of the problems in accident and emergency services. I understand, as I said, that the greater solution to this problem in Galway is increased bed capacity. We are not going to see that for some time, but I welcome the appointment of a design team to develop two new bed blocks at University Hospital Galway. The team has commenced its work and we hope it will bring a proposal to the planning stage soon. We also hope the project will be included as a piece of critical infrastructure, and that the Government will consider that. In the intervening period, however, there is a need to address the issue of people waiting long periods, many for over 24 hours, in a temporary accident and emergency facility at University Hospital Galway.”
“I very much welcome the response. I particularly welcome the clarity it brings, in that the Minister of State said consideration is being given to the feasibility of the development of a minor injury unit in Galway. If I had not received a response from the Minister just last week advising me there were no current plans to establish a new unit in Galway at this time, I would not have been here this morning. There is clearly a discrepancy there. I can understand that occurs, but what concerns me also is that this discrepancy might also suggest the minor injury unit is not being afforded the importance and priority it should be as afforded as a health solution to address one of the significant problems we have in Galway, that being the delays in accident and emergency services.”
“This means 20% of the patients in this country who spent more than 24 hours in an emergency department over the past day or so are in Galway. There are considerable pressures on the emergency department in Galway. I know some of this is about increasing bed capacity in the hospital and there are plans to do that but it would be assisted if we developed a minor injuries unit, for which an allocation of funding for its appraisal was provided earlier this year. As I said, I visited the UHG on Monday night. I am not a doctor and I do not diagnose but, looking at some of the people waiting for treatment, I could see that a number had sports injuries. Had they the option to attend a minor injuries clinic, it would have freed up greater capacity in the emergency department and people would have had to spend less time there.”
“For the third time this year, which I understand is an increase on previous years, management in the hospital has had to advise the public that, due to exceptionally high emergency demand, elective procedures have been postponed and urgent and time-sensitive procedures are being prioritised. Management of the hospital advising the public that elective or non-urgent procedures are being cancelled due to demand at Galway emergency department is becoming more frequent. If we were to develop a minor injuries unit in the city, it would relieve some of this demand. To look at data presented by the HSE this morning, there are 47 patients in the country waiting more than 24 hours in emergency departments throughout the country and nine of them are in Galway.”
“To consider equivalent population centres, Limerick has a minor injuries unit, there are three in Cork and there are two in Dublin. On a population base, a unit in Galway is warranted. The area the appraisal needs to focus on is clinical safety consideration. The emergency department at University Hospital Galway is consistently under considerable pressure. I happened to be there on Monday night with a family member and the only way I can describe it is that there was limited standing room in the waiting area, such was the demand for people to be seen.”
“I was somewhat taken aback recently, following a parliamentary question in which I asked for an update on the development of this appraisal of a minor injuries unit in Galway, when the Minister, in her response, advised me that the HSE had advised her there was no plan to establish a new unit in Galway at this time. The reply stated the national injury unit expansion programme prioritises locations based on population need, geographical gaps and clinical safety considerations. On all of these issues, Galway would tick the box. If we take geographical gaps, there is one minor injuries unit in the entire HSE West and North West health area while there are three in County Cork alone. There is a clear geographical gap there. With regard to population need, Galway city is a significant population centre.”
“Mar a dúirt an Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, táim ag iarraidh ábhar a ardú, is é sin, an gá le hionad gortuithe beaga do dhaoine i nGaillimh. Le tamall fada, táim den tuairim gur cheart go mbeadh ionad mar seo againn i nGaillimh. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this issue. It has long been a contention of mine and, indeed, many others that Galway city and the wider region need, and would benefit from, a minor injuries unit. This unit should be located somewhere in the environs of Galway city. In February the HSE capital plan 2026 was published and the page detailing potential expenditure and infrastructural development in Galway noted a figure of €84,000 for the appraisal of a Galway injuries unit. I thought this was very welcome and I was hopeful there would be some progress on the issue.”
“All TDs will be coming to his Department with demands for the budget but I want to make sure the Department is fully aware of what this potential cost might be in terms of budget provision.”
“The final clarity I would seek is in terms of the figure the Department of Finance has put out consistently about the full cost of these measures as being €750 million. Are we making provision, given the fact there may be consequences and there may be a necessity to extend these measures? The Tánaiste is talking about the prices having come down somewhat and maybe ameliorating the change but have we made provision? Are we contemplating what the full cost to the Exchequer might be if the necessity arises to continue these measures for an extended period, given the volatility that seems to exist in the conflict in the Middle East and the uncertainty it may continue to cause for some time? The Tánaiste is correct.”
“I welcome that and I very much welcome the fact the Tánaiste has forecast that we want to avoid a situation where there would be a cliff edge, where suddenly there would be a massive increase in price again, which would impact on households, in particular, and people who depend on their cars because, as we know, unfortunately, the transport system in many parts of the country is not at the capacity we would like to see and people are reliant on private transport. Obviously, the tax and excise changes on fuel have an impact. I refer to the legislative work that would need to be done before the Dáil rises on 16 July. We must ensure people are assured that throughout the period the Dáil is in recess that we have made provision to ensure we avoid that cliff edge.”
“I observed the interaction earlier in the question session between the Tánaiste and Deputy Doherty on this same issue. I very much welcome that the Government is going to bring clarity to this over coming days. It is as I expected because from the outset of the conflict in the Middle East, the Government said that we would observe the impact of the conflict on prices in Ireland and take the appropriate measures at the appropriate time. We have always said that we must be conscious that this conflict could prolong into the winter. As the uncertainty and volatility continues, this is prudent.”
“I ask the Government to examine legislation and regulation in respect of the term "bathing season". The bathing season began on 1 June and will run until the end of September. The challenge is that local authorities will only sample water quality in bathing areas during the bathing season. This is despite the fact that people are now swimming outdoors throughout the year. This has developed in popularity since the Covid pandemic began. We do not know the quality of the water people are swimming in outside of what is considered the bathing season. Galway City Council only samples the water during the bathing season. Dublin City Council is the only local authority in the State that samples water outside of the bathing season. I know the Taoiseach himself enjoys a swim on Christmas Day.”
“Their daughter, Ruby, a lovely child, is a wheelchair user and she has a strong desire to get to the bathing waters with her family when the weather is good, something I have the good fortune to be able to take for granted for my children. I ask that the Government offer some direction to local authorities as to how they can address this.”
“I ask that the Government offer some guidance to local authorities on providing access to our bathing waters for people with limited mobility or wheelchair users. The bathing season commenced on 1 June. That term is somewhat archaic. I think we need to look at it. Many people cannot access the waters, and there seems to be some divergence among local authorities as to how they address this situation. I understand that Mayo County Council is very proactive in the area. Unfortunately, however, despite having the apparatus to do so and despite there being two blue-flag beaches in Galway city, people with limited mobility or wheelchair users cannot access our bathing waters. There is a young family in my community.”
“This review, undertaken by the Department's inspectorate, highlights that many of the children attending have very positive outcomes and find they can in many instances overcome the language delay. I appreciate the answer. I particularly appreciate the opportunity to bring a delegation to meet the Minister and I certainly will take him up on that.”
“For a child in national school between the ages of five and 11 or 12, a journey of 45 km every day from Monday to Friday is arduous. They should be able to access adequate education provision much closer to home. I understand we cannot, unfortunately, have such a class in each mainstream school but we need to look at the map and at where in the country there are gaps in the provision of such classes. Can the class be placed appropriately in an area that makes it difficult for nobody and where everybody has a suitable opportunity to attend? The other crucial aspect, and we all know this because the data and the study from the inspectorate show this, is the importance of early intervention and how the outcomes can be enhanced by earlier intervention.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I welcome the Minister of State's final comments. I would welcome very much that we would provide the opportunity for the families who are making this very genuine case. He is correct. I have met two families in these circumstances but no doubt there are many more who would benefit from the provision of a class for children who have a challenge with speech and language. I noted in my previous contribution the distance parents will travel to meet the needs of their children. In this review done by the Department's inspectorate in 2021, it was found children travelled up to 45 km to attend a class for children with additional needs. It is difficult for them to maintain contact with their local school during placement. Placement would be generally for two academic years.”
“I have another request, which cannot be neglected either. In south Connemara, which is the Connemara Gaeltacht, Irish is the first language of the community. Delayed language disorder affects children irrespective of the language they speak. I have also been petitioned by parents in south Connemara. They are seeking a class for their children with additional need in the area of language disorder. I appreciate the Minister of State being here. I acknowledge the great investment and expansion the Government is doing in the area of education of children with additional needs but I ask that this request get a fair hearing in the Department.”
“Even if going beyond the county border into west Mayo, there is no class for children with delayed language disorder. That is something we need to look at. A report from 2021 outlined that across the country there were in the region of 60 classes for children with delayed language disorder. They are dispersed and a significant number of them are in urban areas. We need to look beyond that to provision of classes elsewhere. I have a unique request. My interest has been instigated by a family from west Connemara who came to see me. It is not practical for them to bring a child into Galway city to attend the delayed language disorder class. The Department of Education and Youth needs to look at the area between Moycullen and Clifden to see whether it can find a school where it can provide a class for children with delayed language disorder.”
“Hopefully, we will see that expanded to the mainstream setting in years to come. For now, unfortunately, that provision is not there, particularly in the area of speech and language. When reflecting on the additional classes provided this year, it would have to be said that we are meeting a significant demand for children with autism. However, in the list of over 500 classes that we provided this year - and I could be wrong - there is one class for children with delayed language disorder. Fortunately enough, it happens to be in my hometown and in my constituency. I know the school involved well. The school management are very appreciative of the effort and have already filled that class. Connemara is in the west of my constituency. It is a significant geographic area.”
“There have been in the region of 1,000 additional classes for children with additional needs in our mainstream schools since the Government came into office; that is 1,000 additional teachers and potentially 2,000 extra special needs assistants in the system, allowing children with additional needs to attend their local mainstream national school with their peers, as it should be. The Taoiseach said at the outset of this Government that he wanted to provide a step change in the provision of education and services for children and for people with additional needs. The other great measure the Government has taken is in the area of providing therapeutic intervention in special schools, that is, providing special schools with speech and language therapists and occupational therapists.”
“I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, for being here to take this Topical Issue. It is one of particular importance to the people of my constituency, particularly young families in the west part of the constituency, Connemara. I will elaborate on that as I go on. One has to recognise in raising this topic the significant investment and expansion in the provision of classes for children with additional needs, this year in particular, but also in the previous academic year - since this Government came into office. It is one thing in the work of this Government we can reflect on with great pride.”
“Similar to previous speakers, I urge a note of caution. The impetus seems to be focused on introducing a ban on social media for those under 16. Deputy Malcolm Byrne mentioned the importance of getting the input of children in the decision-making process. The children's committee held a number of meetings regarding this issue. It met experts from the world of academia and those who worked with children and young people. It also met young people themselves, who had very strong feelings about the practicalities of this ban and how it would work, if, indeed, it did work. There was a much stronger feeling that we must be better at holding the platforms and social media companies to account for the content on their platforms and for the addictive methods they use to ensure that young people are using them excessively.”
“It offers a fantastic experience for tourists. In the region of a quarter of a million people visit it every year. I would like to see it being further developed. There is a wonderful visitor centre there and it has a new experience that teaches people about the Connemara pony - something that is again unique to the area. Luaim chomh maith Ionad Cultúrtha an Phiarsaigh i Rosmuc, aonad a chuireann síos ar stair na háite maidir le Pádraig Pearse. Bhí cónaí air san áit ar feadh blianta agus é ag foghlaim na teanga. I will finish by referring to the importance of tourism to the offshore islands. It is the crucial industry for them. There is some concern about the impact of the changes to the short-term letting sphere that we are going to introduce. I just ask that we might consider particular details for the offshore islands.”
“There is greater usage of public transport. There is a greater need to maintain good road quality and, as Deputy Aird says, to build things like greenways. Local authorities would benefit from the opportunity to raise funds through a tourism tax. Dublin City Council has sought it. Galway City Council was the first to moot it. We should give councils the liberty and the opportunity to do so. They are conscious enough to do so in a way that does not make the attraction too expensive or that it will not kill the goose that lays the golden egg in terms of tourism. We should move on that and allow them to do that. Bhí mé ag caint faoi Chonamara ansin. Ba mhaith liom dhá áit eile i gConamara a lua atá thar a bheith tábhachtach ó thaobh cúrsaí turasóireachta agus cuairteoirí de. I want to mention the Connemara National Park.”
“Sadly, not every part of the country can say that but we can in Galway. We appreciate it and as locals we feel that offers a unique opportunity for tourists to come and experience it. One of the things Galway City Council has sought to do - I support it on this. In fact, I was a member of the council when we first discussed it - is the opportunity for the local authority to develop a tourism tax. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to travel so much abroad. I always pay a tourism tax to the hotel operator in addition to the cost of staying at the hotel. Again, fortunately, it is something that I can do. We need to look at it as an opportunity for local authorities to raise revenue. There are additional costs on certain local authorities as a result of being a location that tourists enjoy. We like to keep the city cleaner.”
“Like other Members I am going to discuss the virtues of my own constituency from a tourism perspective. It offers a unique tourism experience. Unlike many other areas, we have a bustling city that is expanding but we also have a region of great natural beauty beside it in Connemara. It offers tourists a unique opportunity to experience both. Many see Galway mar príomhchathair dhátheangach agus príomhchathair chultúrtha na tíre seo - the bilingual capital of the country. One of the things about bilingualism and an Ghaeilge is nach ndéanfaimid dóthain chun cúrsaí turasóireachta a spreagadh ó thaobh na teanga de - we do not use the language enough. We do not use the fact that the language is spoken as the daily language of the community in Connemara and is widely heard across Galway city as something to attract tourists to enjoy.”
“On 14 April this year, TII announced it had reached agreement with parties, which will allow the withdrawal of the judicial review proceedings relating to Luas Finglas. TII said that this means Luas Finglas can now proceed. Last December, our colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, confirmed the withdrawal of judicial review proceedings against An Coimisiún Pleanála's grant of planning for the metro project following constructive mediation. I ask that the Taoiseach supports-----”
“There are few other instances in the country that highlight how challenging and difficult we have made it to complete crucial infrastructure projects than the Galway city ring road. As the Taoiseach will be aware, the project was first mooted and planned for in 1999. There have been three separate planning decisions. The design and planning work that has gone into each of those has taken a significant time. There have been alternative compulsory purchase orders and a number of legal cases. The latest and third grant of planning for the project was on 9 April this year but, unfortunately, that faces judicial review, posing further delay to this crucial project and potential derailment.”
“Galway would make great sense - eminent sense, in fact - for that because it would be complemented, obviously, by the Army base at Renmore and it also has the natural infrastructure to facilitate such a development. I ask, therefore, that we start to develop the maritime strategy and that point in particular.”
“One of the things I have often found puzzling is that the very proud and historical tradition of maritime and naval participation that a location like Galway has among its citizens seems to have petered out in recent times. The operation of a naval support base or naval infrastructure along the west coast in Galway would encourage more local people, potentially, to join the Naval Service or the Naval Reserve. That is noted by the Commission on the Defence Forces as well. To bring it on then to our national maritime strategy, one of the initial action points for the first strategy is to "Explore concept of a forward operating base on the West Coast base for the Naval Service". Everything in these studies is pointing towards the need for the west coast to be serviced by a naval base.”
“The location of a support base on the west ... coast ... combined with double crewing of vessels, would facilitate ships remaining at sea for longer periods as they would no longer have to return to Haulbowline for replenishment and crew changeover.”
“I commend the frankness of the report by the Commission on the Defence Forces. It noted the serious area and scale of responsibility that we have in "our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the scale of fishing activity in our waters, the number of aircraft crossing Irish controlled airspace, our growing seabased energy infrastructure, and the number of subsea communications cables and sea lines passing close to our coastline". There was a full and frank recognition: ...that a more comprehensive patrol programme [is required for that area and that this could] be facilitated by the establishment of a naval support base or bases, making use of existing port facilities at locations in the west ... which would allow for faster deployment and would facilitate replenishment of fuel, fresh food and water, and the removal of waste.”
“Will the Minister outline the plans in place for an expanded unit of the Naval Reserve and an infrastructural presence in the form of a Naval Reserve base in Galway, as supported both by the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces and by the maritime security strategy, and will she make a statement on that matter?”
“Are they thinking of how they might be able to operate in the future when it is clear that the Security Council will not provide an opportunity for peacekeeping missions?”
“I compliment the Government on its continued support, in particular for that loan measure. The Minister of State mentioned the ending of the UNIFIL mission at the end of this year. Are there other European countries like us that are concerned they will not have the opportunity to provide peacekeeping missions in other parts of the world? Unfortunately, if troops from European countries are not keeping peace, more lives will be lost, more conflict will reign and there will be less stability and more volatility in the world. Are there other countries like us that have a similar measure whereby the participation of their forces in peacekeeping missions must be sanctioned by the UN Security Council?”
“I welcome the Minister of State home. I also welcome the fact that, at the meeting of EU defence ministers, there was continued support and solidarity among all nations with the people of Ukraine, given the circumstances they currently endure. Was there any specific discussion at the meeting about a post-war scenario in Ukraine and the potential for a peace agreement between the countries? I note that, recently, Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Downing Street where he met with President Macron and the German President. Those nations again reiterated their support for Ukraine. At any point during the meeting did the talks come to the point where there may be a peace agreement, what that might look like, and what a post-war scenario might look like in Ukraine?”
“They create good employees and good members of society as well. One of the debates we had at the higher education committee recently was about the area of assistive technology in the third level sector. It was interesting to hear from some of those working in the sector and the discussion around how they feel that young people may not have the level of digital literacy skills that we may have taken for granted that they do have and how they find that it is necessary to train young people in that area. That is hugely important. One of the things they spoke about was how different operating systems and platforms demand different skills and young people who are able to manage one platform or operating system are challenged by others. Examining that issue is important too.”
“We still have this sense that education is solely for young people and while it is most advantageous for young people to avail of it as early as they can in life, we still need to turn the dial somewhat to give people the opportunities throughout their lives for educational enhancement, skill development and personal enhancement because one core aspect of the education system at every level - primary, secondary and third - should be the development of the person. Whatever skills they learn will be their vocation in life. We need to teach young people, and all people, that all those cross-curricular, or transversal skills as they are called in the third level and further education sectors, such as personal skills, personal well-being, critical thinking and how to work together as part of a team, are hugely important.”