Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I thank my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Haughey, for the work he has done on this legislation. I also thank my colleagues in the House. People have been waiting for this legislation for a considerable period but I believe it will provide something very valuable for our citizens. That is clearly what we must achieve in this country.

I wish to thank the stakeholders, including the students, who were closely involved in discussions with me, my predecessor and the Department's officials in formulating the new way in which we can deliver grant aid to our young people. This will provide a modern, transparent and coherent system for the organisation and operation of student grants, which is the improvement in services that people want to see in this country. I thank my Department for its work in bringing this legislation forward. Even though it gets criticised on occasion for being slow in the context of educational reform, this is very good legislation which will be invaluable for the future.

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