James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

The €22 million is to see this out. It is to fund a number of students, many of whom would have been at leaving certificate level this year taking examinations and who had an understanding they would be sponsored through their education and eligible for various support. A decision was taken that those people had a legitimate expectation and that should be honoured and it would be seen through. The system has moved to a more sustainable model where applicants for future grants and awards would be subject to means tests and the usual rules that would apply to Irish or EU students who would be applying.