My Priorities

Tackling the education gap requires concerted effort at every stage of the education process. Below are the priorities I strive for in this campaign and beyond.

Tackling education inequality

Addressing inequalities in education will help create a fairer and more meritocratic society.

Closing the Covid gap

Providing assistance to students can help students catch up and eliminate the learning gaps resulting from Covid-19 school closures.

Investing in higher education

Investing in higher education is in society's present and future interest. I will advocate for greater and better funding for research.

Supporting students

Irish students are forced to pay the EU's highest fees and crippling rents. Meanwhile, state funding per third level student is 40% lower than a decade ago. Young people should not be priced out of education.

Quality Childcare

Good quality childcare not only provides economic benefits by freeing up labour, but has also been shown to assist the development of linguistic and cognitive skills among children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Safeguarding university autonomy

Protecting university autonomy is integral to the maintenance of academic freedom and democratic governance. Autonomy will help keep the state accountable.

References

Whelan, C. T. & Layte, R. Economic boom and social mobility: The Irish experience. Res. Soc. Stratif. Mobil. 24, 193–208 (2006).
Jackson, M. How is Inequality of Educational Opportunity Generated? The Case for Primary and Secondary Effects. in Determined to Succeed? Performance versus Choice in Educational Attainment (ed. Jackson, M.) 1–33 (Stanford University Press, 2013).