Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Last year, we had an evidence-based session from representative of both the active consent and the bystander intervention programme. There are different challenges for a huge number of students out there but some of the research carried out by the active consent programme in the University of Galway and the Union of Students in Ireland in 2020 has found that 42% of women in the first year of college has experienced unwanted sexual touching. In addition, 29% have said they experienced completed penetration against their own will, similar to the definition of "rape", in the previous 12 months. As I said, we heard evidence from both these programmes and it was really interesting to hear of the challenges that specifically female students are experiencing. Does the Minister has any measures or supports in place to make sure higher and third level institutions are a safe place for female students specifically? This happens to males as well but predominately the feedback came from females.