Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)

In an ideal world, Members on both sides of the House would seek to protect the most vulnerable in our society from the biting winds of recession. However, it is not possible to exempt any sector, including the education sector, from the painful adjustments that are necessary. There are in place provisions to allow the State pay this charge on behalf of the most vulnerable.

I do not believe that a person for whom education is a priority would consider €200 per annum an obstacle to gaining that education or upskilling which could provide him or her an with an opportunity get back into the workforce. While PLC learners are generally from the lower socioeconomic categories than are those in higher education, students from less well off families are being protected. That is the ambition of this scheme. I believe that this contribution should be seen in the context of the more significant levies applying to higher education.

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