Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

It is like trying to measure how long is a piece of string. We cannot predict the impact of this in terms of exact numbers and participation rates. Participation rates at third level are determined by a myriad of factors and income is not the only criterion. Parental aspects, social and cultural factors, the level of pre-existing educational attainment, whether someone is in employment, whether someone has lost a job and a certain amount of income are other factors. One can safely assume it will have a negative impact but we do not know for certain and there is no way of measuring its impact. It is part of a package of measures the Department and the Government had to take in reducing spending. We are honest about that. We must try to ensure the student assistance fund, at the behest of individual institutions, is retained and that tax reliefs for postgraduate students are retained. Arising from these budgetary adjustments, the people who are least affected are the people who will be given the greatest chance to go to postgraduate education, namely, those who are on the lower income thresholds. We have tried to protect and preserve that.

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