Fee-paying and Gaelscoil students are the most likely to go to university
If we take a typical student in a fee-paying school and can find a similar student in a non-fee-paying school (similar in terms of social and economic circumstances) they may both be equally likely to get to third-level education.
Pádraig Cunningham, blogger
The line repeated that nobody should have an educational advantage over the "working class" might as well be rephrased we should make society poorer.
SuperNova2, boards.ie
This must be the zillionth time we've been told about fee-paying schools and third level. So is it a crime to give your child all you can?
@GemmaMGHussey, Twitter
A lot of money being spent on fee-paying schools. Would go a long way to fund second year of preschool. @poolfan81, Twitter
Department of Education figures are not news but reinforce point that Government focus must be to support 93 per cent of schools in free State system.
@Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Kids in fee-paying schools are from middle-class backgrounds where there is strong pressure from family that you continue your education.
Neil Byrne, thejournal.ie
For most parents it's not a question of whether they're "willing" to pay for private education, it's that they can't afford to. That does not mean that they don't value their children's education.
Aoife, thejournal.ie
I have no objection to subsidising the less well-off. It is me subsidising private elite education for the equally well-off and the better-off which I object to.
zubeneschamali, boards.ie
Ruairí Quinn proposes using child-benefit funds for free preschool education
Cannot see much of a downside, research has shown the benefits in cognitive and social development. It could also benefit job creation.
Starburst, thejournal.ie
The plan to use child benefit to fund a second preschool year is State-funded childcare and discriminates against one- income families. Again.
@ColumbaWilliam, Twitter
There should be no cash handed out as child benefit. Instead all that money should be used for free schooling, free lunches, free transport to school, etc. This way the money goes directly to the benefit of all the children.
Fozz, thejournal.ie
Kite-flying by Ruairí Quinn: cut in child benefit to go towards second preschool year will take from older children.
@JoanGeraghty, Twitter
It would be hard to quibble with Ruairí Quinn on reallocating some child benefit to target better-quality child care for poorer families. Evidence is that resources in education should be directed at the youngest children. If they are failed at that age it's much, much harder.
@harrymcgee2h, Twitter
