Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank all of the witnesses for attending and for their good and insightful presentations. Professor MacCraith mentioned all of the advances that have been made in terms of the McAleese scholarships, ERASMUS funding and the position relating to CAO points being rectified in order to be fair to students from the Six Counties. We need to protect the many advances that have been made in these areas. My party and I feel that a designated special status for the Six Counties is the way forward because it would protect all of the gains that have been made in the sector. Brexit may jeopardise funding for students with disabilities from the Twenty-six Counties who have chosen to study in the Six Counties or the UK. We must examine these issues and reach a conclusion in respect of them. I would like to hear the views of the representatives about a designated special status.