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Replying To Doylerwex:  "It's more likely that people from different socioeconomic backgrounds may not be encouraged to pursue academia or may not have seen that example within their social circles or among their peers.

It is very often down to cost and anybody who thinks otherwise is living on a different planet.

I know you know this, but take a 15 year old in Wexford as an example. SETU may be the only option due to cost or availablity of housing which just isn't an issue for a child the same age in Dublin. I cannot understand how there are people on this forum even trying to challenge the idea."
While people of "different socioeconomic backgrounds" may not see that example within their social circles or among their peers or may not be encouraged to do it, all Secondary school students are made aware of these options, particularly in 4th year and 5th year as the approach Leaving Cert and are made aware of CAO forms and requirements etc. I never thought that path would be open to me, but was made aware at Secondary school by Career Guidance teacher who took classes through it.

I acknowledge cost is factor in deciding where to go, my only option was LYIT (Now part of ATU), as I could not afford to move to Dublin or anywhere else. Even with my part-time job, I could not cover the accommodation and travel costs outside Donegal and my family couldn't either. I had to work long hours for crap wages to pay for books, bus, food, clothing etc, but it was manageable.

The discussion is whether equal education opportunities exist, not whether equal wealth exists or whether its easier for someone who grows up in Dublin to live at home and attend UCD or Trinity etc, compared to someone in Wexford, Donegal or Mayo.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1718 - 10/04/2026 11:47:30    2665553

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Replying To Commodore:  "You went full Victim there. Are you experiencing Scopto, where your mind sees what it wants to see, regardless of what I actually wrote?

Read my comments, particularly read where I openly stated that despite me growing up in a very poor family in the 1980s, I managed to attend 3rd Level education on a grant while working part-time (Started working PT at 15), my parents could not afford to pay for my education due to our difficult circumstances.

Writing as someone from a relatively poor background who availed of these opportunities, I am clearly saying that if others from similarly poor backgrounds didn't avail of these opportunities, its likely because they chose not to for a variety of reasons (Including those who might struggle academically), not because those opportunities didn't exist.

Also its shameful for you to suggest people who struggle academically are genetically less intelligent or are from poorer backgrounds, Academic education is just one path, many successful people struggled academically, but are probably more intelligent, they just learn differently, learn from experience and apply those leanings better."
I wasnt suggesting that, you were, whether you meant to or not.
And your life story is proof that equality of opportunity doesn't exist, which was my point in the 1st place.
Of course there's opportunity, and of course some people do better in life than others at achieving their goals, be those making money, being a good parent, being happy, being healthy or whatever their goals are.
But the bottom line still is that there are more opportunities, and those opportunities are easier availed of, depending on your family's socio-economic background.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19157 - 10/04/2026 11:52:43    2665558

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Replying To zinny:  "I think we have to first acknowledge we have come a long way from the statement I posted in the other post however the old attitudes to the word "FREE" still exist when it comes to public services and Education is no different. If education is one of the keys to prosperity then unless its free then we are creating barriers for people who cannot afford it. That in turn keeps the status quo which of course is what a lot of people want. Its not a utopian society where there are no barriers to education but rather a just society.
There is a lot of reform that is needed in Education to make t more effective for the money spent on it - issues with teaching standards are hard to resolve because of the ingrained way the system works, that in turn allows a two tier system of education where wealth buys a better standard. So its not just about removing the costs to education but also ensuring that the quality of education received does not create that two tier standard."
Good post Zinny. I was lucky. Or unlucky depending what way you look at it. I got a scholarship to go to a fee paying boarding school in England. I know for a fact that that opportunity isnt available to everyone.
And there were plenty there who were educated beyond their intelligence, and therefore got places at 3rd level institutions, purely because their parents were wealthy.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19157 - 10/04/2026 11:58:04    2665562

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "
Replying To Commodore:  "The Public sector is absolutely bloated, its a disgrace, the biggest drain on public finances in Ireland with inefficiencies that would never survive in a non-unionized private sector corporation. While Artificial intelligence is getting introduced to drive efficiency in the private sector and where modern business apps streamline a lot of admin work in different industries, nothing changes in Ireland's white elephant. Once a public employee is made permanent, its a job for life, handy 35 hours, excessive sick leave etc. I'm talking about glorified secretarial roles, I would understand if it was front-line workers earning big money, but its not. Anyone who doubts the "Jobs for life" comment, google<b> 'Public Sector Mortgages in Ireland'</b> to see what I mean, a job for life gets you special treatment for mortgages in an era when many Irish people are struggling to qualify for mortgages, as different rules apply to public sector workers, as its a scam. Jobs for the boys. I work in the private sector, but my information is solid, from several close friends who joined different branches of the Public sector in last 5 - 15 years in two different Counties. These people worked in the private sector for varying numbers of years, and are in grade 3, grade 5 & grade 7 admin roles and their incomes would surprise a lot of people. They all agree is very inefficient and also resistant to any attempt to improve things."</div>I've worked as a manager in the department of social protection and can testify to this. The resistance to change and any form of efficiency initiative is genuinely frightening."
Yeah and that drives good people out, like people with genuinely good intentions or who want to make things more efficient, it eventually wears them down.

I don't want to attack individual public sector departments here, I know a good few people from each of the DSP, ETB and HSE, not to mention the County Council. I'm not saying we should get rid of those departments, I am saying they need a major overhaul to how they are run and particular a closer look at wage structure and maybe get rid of the Unions.

Its near impossible to get a mortgage in Ireland unless one person in a house is in a permanent public sector role, in which case getting a mortgage is a formality.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1718 - 10/04/2026 12:06:37    2665565

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