Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for a comprehensive opening statement which ensures we do not have to get into too many detailed questions, as he has set out many of the answers. I am little concerned about a couple of areas, the first of which is the restriction in the movement of students brought about by changes to the cost of education in the UK. That does two things. First, it reduces the number of students interacting east-west, which is unfortunate, because if we are to break down the barriers, try to get peace on this island and work beyond the conflict which has bedevilled it for so long, we have to get a better shared understanding between the two islands as well as North-South. To some extent that has had an impact. Second, if fewer of our students go to the UK because of the increase in fees or go to Scotland, which was zero fee based, as the Minister rightly identified, it will put a burden on our educational peace. I know the Minister indicated there will be an increase in places here but does he think this is adequate or do we need to fund more places?

The student population is rising, more young people want to go to college and there is the pandemic. The Minister and I discussed the issue of the potential for dropouts from college this year. What are we facing into in terms of the best-case scenario coming into August and September? How does the Minister view our college places? Do we have enough, when one takes into consideration everything that has happened?

Is there any way or model other than Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI? SUSI has its own income limit thresholds. Before this, those who went to Scotland effectively had free fees. Obviously, there were other auxiliary costs but there were no fees. Does the Minister have any ideas or thoughts around funding students, other than through SUSI, who would choose a Scottish university?