We’re falling behind in race for knowledge

GIVEN the downturn in the building and financial sectors and the increased competition from China and India in manufacturing, it is widely recognised that the best way forward for us is through knowledge-intensive, high value-added activities.

So it was alarming to read in the latest relevant OECD report that Ireland is propping up the table of investment in education.

In fact, State investment in this crucial area has fallen from 5.2% of GDP in 1995 to a very low 4.6% last year. The OECD average is 6.2%, while Scandinavian countries spend over 7%.

It is no accident that they have the most advanced economies and the best quality of life in the world, while we are stuck with the largest class sizes.

Three years ago, the Enterprise Strategy Group and the Higher Education Authority called for Ireland to “be at the forefront in generating and using new knowledge for economic and social progress”.

Unfortunately, the Government failed to harness the wealth needed to do this but, along with Fine Gael and Labour, took the easy route of promising more tax cuts, particularly for the very wealthy, including property speculators who have contributed to the disruptive boom and bust in property prices.

Along with the disastrous consequences of the privatisation of eircom — the worst and most expensive broadband in the EU — this bodes ill for our need to build a knowledge economy.

Cllr Dessie Ellis

19 Dunsink Road

Finglas

Dublin 11