Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)

As Mr. O'Mahony referenced - this is extremely important and it comes across all our desks - family dynamics across this country are extremely different. The fact that students have to go to a solicitor to go through a court process to try to access available funding once again reminds students across this country where they stand, if they have to rely on a grant to let them access third level education. As a policymaker, it is embarrassing and emotionally upsetting that I have families and individuals coming to my constituency office who place economic barriers before their education. It is fundamentally wrong. Before I came to this House, I was a secondary school teacher. I promoted apprenticeships, third level education and further education. I taught in a very poor socioeconomic area. I saw students sitting in front of me telling me, "Sir, there is no hope of me going on to further education because my family cannot afford it." That is a fact.

What are the witnesses' personal assessments of Government action on accommodation and affordability for students since the beginning of this Dáil term?