Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State very much for coming in. I welcome the Supplementary Estimate. We all recognise that extra money is needed in light of this exceptional year. There has been talk about money being spent on mental health services. I believe all of us in this room agree that getting third level students back on campus must be a top priority for this committee and for universities. We had the provost of Trinity College Dublin and the president of the National University of Ireland, Galway, here last week and I believe they recognised that.

I want to make several points. One of the matters mentioned by the provost and president was that when it comes to deciding whether remote learning should take place, the decision is to be made by the individual lecturer. Obviously, individual lecturers should have a significant say in this regard but I am concerned that they would have ultimate control over whether students come back on campus or continue with remote learning. Fortunately, this is an historic day because we have seen the first people on the island vaccinated against Covid-19. I hope that early next year we will have vaccination rolled out, which will ensure people who are less vulnerable, such as young students, can get back on campus. What is the view of the Minister of State, the Department and the officials on trying to ensure that we get more people back on campus? Is it an important priority for them? What does the Minister of State believe can be done by the Department in addition to what the universities are doing?