Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I know the Minister is due to make an announcement on the accommodation issue. There are a large number of colleges with courses that are specific to the college in question and the course is not available anywhere else in Ireland. Optometry in TU Dublin is an example. I think there are between 40 and 50 students on the course. TU Dublin also offers a degree in medical science. On our visit, I asked for a show of hands of how many students were from Dublin and how many were from other parts of the country. I was amazed. There were students from every county in the country. If these courses were available in other colleges, many more people would be able to access them. Is the Department looking at what courses are available in colleges? That would help in determining where similar courses could be provided by different colleges.

The Department is considering where to offer more veterinary studies and medicine course. I will return to that issue. In TU Dublin I spoke to one girl from the west whose family is making major financial sacrifices to put her through college. If that course was offered in Galway, Kerry or Limerick, it would have been much easier for her. She might have been able to travel home each evening. That is just one example but many parents are making the same sacrifices. Dublin is a very expensive place for students to live.