Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I believe I am correct in observing that the Minister inherited the Student Support Bill from his predecessor who moved the legislation and the debate on Second Stage. Many of the issues surrounding the legislation have been resolved. For example, the Irish Vocational Education Association has proposed a centralised system of administration which would, by and large, give new legitimacy to the organisation by finding a new role for it, while also delivering the efficiencies sought by the Department. Why is it that the Department is able to provide a five page reply to every parliamentary question it receives but is incapable of showing the same level of productivity when drafting legislation?

A new sense of urgency surrounds the Student Support Bill. The downturn in the economy has created acute problems for students seeking to secure grants under the existing system. Will the Minister speed up the review and establish the centralised system, for which a plan has been drafted but left on a shelf in the Department?

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