Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief as I am aware we are near the end of the meeting. What assessments have been done on the impact the influx of students will have on our education system? It is my understanding that we are talking about more than 40,000 students in the education system. We have never been faced with these numbers before. I am concerned in responding to one crisis that we do not cause another. What level of planning and assessment has been done?

On collaboration, I recognise and welcome that there is collaboration with SOLAS on the apprenticeship issue. Is there collaboration with the boards of the individual universities?

I am also concerned about special needs. Our resources are seriously stretched. How will students get support at third level? Will that have implications for the students who are already receiving the supports within our system? Does it mean they will get less or do we have additional experts and trained people going into that area to cover the numbers that will be needed? I am concerned about that, in particular, the overall assessment.