Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have yet to have a Gaeltacht experience myself but I know how hugely beneficial it has been for so many people and we need to continue to promote it. We are talking about people who require it as part of their qualification and studies. I have received much correspondence on this matter and I have sought advice from my officials. Somewhat surprisingly, I am told that it remains a matter for the Department of Education but I have been engaging with that Department on it. I am not trying to pass the buck. The State has a moral responsibility and obligation to its students, and to everybody, during the Covid crisis. I accept that and the State is doing quite a lot. There is a €163 million Covid package for higher education, including for laptops. The student assistance fund has been doubled and there is extra funding for mental health. We want to do more. We have set up a student well-being and engagement group, which is chaired by the president of the USI, to identify more issues on which we we can work together. I fully accept that we have a job of work to do but as the Deputy quite rightly hinted in his question, others have a role to play as well. I would encourage everybody to adopt a compassionate, commonsense view during what is a very difficult time for all our students due to Covid. We as a Government will be responding to all those representations and officials will revert to us shortly.