There have certainly been attempts to tackle the inequalities in the Irish education system. For example, in 1967, free second level education was made available for all children. This initiative did increase the numbers of students continuing with their education. However, this concept of "free" education remained to be somewhat of a myth. As we all know, the wealthier the family background, the better they are able to provide for their offspring's educational needs. .
The Department of Education highlight this argument in their study of educational performance and family background. During the mid-eighties they found that 4.1% of the unskilled manual group achieved five honours or more in the Leaving Certificate, whereas 26.7 % of the middle classes achieved these results. These figures compared to 52.9% of the higher professional category achieving these results (Tovey and Share: 2000). These figures certainly indicate that there is a strong link between class and opportunities in educational achievement. Breen and Whelan further emphasis the link between class and inequality, .
Despite increasing overall levels of educational attainment, the pattern of educational social fluidity has remained unaltered. There is a continuing strong link between class origins and educational attainment (1996:126).
When the points system was introduced, there was a newfound emphasis placed upon securing a third level place and continuing onto tertiary education. However, the hidden costs of this experience have excluded many lower class citizens from participating in this system. Just like popular opinions suggest, the figures prove that there is without a doubt a strong link between educational attainment and class.
Education is not the sole area where class and inequality differences are apparent. There is a major paradox at the heart of Irish development. Despite the unprecedented economic growth of the Irish economy in recent years and its accompanying prosperity, there has been a marked failure to adequately address the issues of poverty, social exclusion and sustainability.