Paula Williams from Loreto College, Crumlin, Dublin, and two boys from Gonzaga College, Dublin, were the big winners in the final of the Leinster schools debating competition at TCD.

Williams was the individual winner, opposing the motion "that this house believes the Irish education system is failing its students". The winning team was Gonzaga's Sam Collins and David Whelan, who supported the motion.

The three youngsters will all go on, later this year, to the AllIreland debating finals - which, like the Leinster competition, is sponsored by ESB. Senator Shane Ross chaired the final, which also featured debaters from St Oliver's College, Drogheda, Co Louth; from Loreto St Michael's College, Navan, Co Meath; from Sandford Park, Dublin; from the Catholic University School, Dublin; from Maryfield College, Griffith Avenue, Dublin, and from Belvedere College, Dublin.

The competition is convened by UCD's Literary and Historical Society and by TCD's Historical Society.