Mr. James Roberts:

I am an Irish citizen who has lived in this country for over 15 years. My Dad works hard for his family. He is a taxi driver who works in the city of Cork. There are five children in my family, including myself. I am the second born and my younger siblings are aged 15, 17 and seven. I have always wanted to study for a degree in psychology. My family was very happy with my choice and encouraged me when I was accepted, on my CAO, by Dublin Business School. It is a college that has a great reputation in the area of business. I honestly did not know that DBS was a private college when I applied because the fact was not noted on the CAO form. It was not until I was offered my college place that I was informed I would not receive a SUSI grant.

My Dad works mad hours. He works a lot of hours just to keep me in the Dublin Business School. Recently I got a job just to help him and myself as my tuition fees are €5,900 a year and my travel and maintenance costs are at least €700 a month. There are very few colleges that offer a course in psychology. If I attended the Dublin Institute of Technology, DIT, that is located up the road from the Dublin Business School, I would be entitled to a SUSI grant of €2,800 and a registration fee of €3,000, which amounts to nearly €6,000 a year from the State. Is it fair that my family should carry the stress and burden of loans? I now hand over to Ms Quin.