Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I agree that third level is very important both for the individuals who benefit from it and for our economic recovery. That is why in the capital programme announced last week the Government has front-loaded projects that provide for the building of schools and the improvement of our education system. The Government is acutely aware of the difficulties many families have in financing their children through education. Some 44% of students in the State do not pay either tuition fees or registration fees because they are in receipt of grants. The remainder of students do not pay tuition fees and there is a registration fee. I contrast that with the situation in Northern Ireland where the Deputy's party is in government. The student fee for a student in Queen's University is €3,837. Given all the Deputy has said, including his quoting of Thomas Davis, with which I agree, can he explain why it is acceptable to charge a student in Belfast €3,837 and he is complaining about the student registration charged down here which is approximately half of that amount?

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