Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the reply. Any form of funding going in is very welcome. There are a lot of students who leave sixth class at 17 or 18 years of age and go straight into third level education, whether they go to Limerick, Dublin, Cork, Galway, Maynooth or wherever that student chooses. It is predominantly female students affected by this. It is happening on the nights out rather than on campus but it is still very much part and parcel of university life. They have to go out, socialise and enjoy themselves.

Any funding is welcome and the work that is done by those organisations is fantastic. They are champions in their own way. This is a subject that was not always the most comfortable subject to talk about, but people are becoming more comfortable with talking about it now and raising the issue than they were in the past.

Deputy Ó Cathasaigh raised an issue about the South East Technological University. The Minister has been very supportive of the new site in Wexford. I compliment Wexford County Council. Mr. Tom Enright is retiring at the end of February. I compliment him. I know the Minister will echo me in that. His work was part and parcel of securing the site in Wexford.

The Deputy mentioned the veterinary profession, as did Senator Dolan. The Minister and Department now have to go through a process. Will they tell us what the remaining parts of the process are, before a final decision will be made about the veterinary side of it? I support Deputy Ó Cathasaigh on teacher training. There is a vote in the Dáil, so I will adjourn the meeting.

I have one question which I ask the Minister to respond to in writing. I had discussions recently with a dentist who is a member of the representative body. In other jurisdictions, such as Canada, a postgraduate model is used for training dentists. Would he consider adopting this model in Ireland? Does he believe it would encourage mature applicants and a greater diversity of students and trained dentists? He will be aware there are huge challenges in dentistry. It is an issue we hear about when migrants go into a community and there is no doctor or dentist. I would appreciate if he would come back to us on that.

I will allow Senator Dolan to ask one question because we have a vote and then I will get the Minister to reply.