Mr. Bryan O'Mahony:

It is spread. For IT degrees, there is a need to get multiple different types of software. We had a cohort of nursing students one year who were told by the college that they all had to - mandatorily - get iPads, which is a huge cost. Then, when the college was challenged, it said that it was not mandatory but just a recommendation because there was no policy on it. Colleges try to slip in mandatory costs where it is not necessary.

There are also costs when students are on a placement. They must get new accommodation, transport, possibly a uniform and stuff like that. All degrees are affected to various extents.