Dr. Joseph Ryan:

I thank the Deputy for his questions. I share his background in teaching at second level. I loved those days. We have agreed through the conversation this morning that equity of access is key. I think we are all agreed on that. The technological sector, of which I am part, is the sector that has really given that voice to democratisation of opportunity for students.

Again, the point we are making is that access must link to the supports for those students when they are coming in. People are coming in with different indicative chances of success, so the supports must be targeted.

We are starting a conversation again with the further education and training sector. It is about continuity of education; it is not just about progression, etc. I am looking forward to a productive conversation.

On accommodation, I will not repeat what we said earlier. The student bodies, to which we are talking, say accommodation is the highest priority and the biggest problem they have had over the past year. It emerged again under Covid. There is great pressure. We would love to get into the borrowing framework, as I said, but we would need Government support on that because the costing model will not work with the students.

This triangulates with the broader housing issue because students are now competing for the same housing that families are competing for. In fairness to the Department, it is examining this in a more holistic way.