Politics

For young people in Ireland, obtaining a third-level degree has arguably never been more important. According to the National Youth Council of Ireland, Ireland had one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the EU during the recession. Even as the economy improves, shrunken retail and construction sectors mean that non-degree holders are the first to be left behind in a competitive job market. Recent statistics from the Department of Education are hopeful, with over 90pc of students sitting their Leaving Cert in 2013 and 2014. However, students from the lowest socio-economic backgrounds still lag behind their peers in this measure: in Ireland’s DEIS schools two out of 10 students…