Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will focus on the talk about cutting student fees. My view on this is known. If we are to increase access, we are far better investing in the SUSI grant scheme, widening access to grants and increasing the amounts available. The old institutes of technology, the TUs, have been particularly strong on the access agenda. I am conscious, in looking at the most recent data for the former Limerick and Athlone Institutes of Technology that, in both cases, 62% of students were in receipt of SUSI grants. A cut in fees will make no difference to those students. In fact, across the TU sector, the figure is in excess of 55%. It is not that dissimilar for the other former institutes of technology. Do the representatives care to express a view on the priorities the Minister should have in respect of increasing access?