Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for coming before us today to present the Revised Estimates for 2025. I thank him for his work. We have had a few issues in the north west and I thank the Minister for listening to them and intervening. I appreciate that work is ongoing regarding student accommodation and the fund activating student beds involves a standardised approach to new development. I am a bit concerned that although we are trying to provide student accommodation, there might not be the expertise in the Department and the amount of red tape might be cumbersome. Is the Minister looking at liaising with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage because student accommodation is critical and not just for students? In the case of ATU in Sligo and Letterkenny in the north west, if we can provide for 500 student accommodation units, it would take pressure off housing. I really believe this is not just a matter for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Research but that a lot more Departments are involved. What is the Minister doing in this area?

On the student contribution fees, Deputy McGettigan summed things up correctly in that, as a committee and as colleagues, we will be happy to do anything we can to try to resolve the matter. We will be only too happy to help.

I am aware that the SUSI grant is being reformed and examined and that this is quite difficult, but every year most TDs and Senators find they have to deal with confusion. What exactly does the Minister hope to do in this regard?

The €77 million secured for apprenticeships is very welcome. Much has been done in this regard in the past few years. We certainly missed a few years a decade ago but there has been a lot of great work since. I am very happy to attend many award ceremonies for apprentices to see their great joy. I say to them that what they are doing is useful. I like to see apprenticeships in education because, to me, they are much more useful than what is on the academic side. I tell all the apprentices that I hope they will make loads of money because we need them. It is good to see the success with apprenticeships. One of the most useful measures this committee can work on concerns apprenticeships in higher education, notwithstanding the other important aspects the Minister is dealing with. I thank the Minister and his officials for their great work.