Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleague, Deputy McConalogue, for brining forward this Private Members' motion. It is a critical issue and it is timely to debate it. Tonight, tens of thousands of students are waiting to see whether they are eligible for support and funding to attend third level education. Those lucky enough to know they are eligible must wait until 2013 before they get their payments. Tonight, tens of thousands of students are looking at this debate and feel totally betrayed by the Minister. Despite the infamous pledge he made at the gates of Trinity College, the Minister plans to continue to increase fees. I call on the Minister to be man enough to stand up and use this debate as an opportunity to apologise to the third level students of Ireland for his blatant use of a cynical electioneering plot three weeks out from the general election in February 2011. At the least the Minister owes the students of Ireland an apology for blatant lies because the students of Ireland turned out to vote for the Labour Party in the majority.

Last night I attended a meeting held by the students' union in Athlone Institute of Technology. It is no laughing matter. They acknowledged that they voted for the Minister in the majority. They also came out and canvassed for the Labour Party. When people were signing up to the supplementary register students were opening advocating voting for the Labour Party because they believed it was the party that would protect student supports. They took the view that not only would the Labour Party not increase student registration fees but it would reverse the previous increase. This was the party they then wished to see in government. However, there were not too many Labour Party people in support of the students at the meeting last night.

There are serious difficulties facing funding at third level. I understand in 2011 registration fees contributed approximately €100 million. The Higher Education Authority predicts that we will need an additional €500 million to ensure we maintain a first class education system. I will not be disingenuous in the way the Minister acted prior to the last election. I acknowledge that the Minister has a difficult job. However, when we refer to a knowledge economy we must be mindful that we must continue and maintain the level of investment in our education sector.

One of the strong points of the Irish economy is that we have the highest per capita graduate population, that is, people coming out of universities.

Over 32% of the population have graduated with a third level qualification.

I watched "The Frontline" programme last night and heard a party colleague of the Minister refer to him as being one of the most reforming Ministers for Education of all time. I wonder how reforming he is when his answer to the funding difficulties at third level is to increase fees year after year. He predicted they would increase right up to 2015. Entry to third level education should not depend on one's socioeconomic group, rather it should be based on an student's ability, willingness and eagerness to attain a third level education. We must look at how we can further cut costs and rationalise services, but is it not cynical given that in the four years prior to becoming Minister Deputy Ruairí stated year after year that he had an alternative to increasing student fees? I remind him that he is now 20 months in office. If he has an alternative, will he bring it forward and maintain the promise he made prior to the last general election?

One of the other big issues raised at the meeting last night was that of SUSI. What is the Government's opinion? When its establishment was being announced in June, the Minister welcomed it as a great initiative. Today, during Leaders' Questions, the Taoiseach said it was brilliant, that it had reduced the number of authorities dealing with applications from 66 to one. Last night a Government Deputy mentioned that there should be a grants officer on every campus in every county. Of course, at last night's meeting it was indicated that it was the previous Government's fault because SUSI was its idea. Would the Minister at least acknowledge that it was his responsibility? He launched it in June and the shambles that it is today is his responsibility.

Last night I listened to horrific stories. I do not wish to blame the staff of SUSI because it is clear the office is not adequately staff. It is extremely disappointing to hear from my colleague that in the debacle the Minister has yet to meet the staff responsible for administering the scheme. That is worrying as thousands of students wait to receive their grants. Only last week a student contacted my constituency office to tell me he was withdrawing from college because he did not have access to college facilities. He wished to withdraw from college because he did not have the capacity to pay his rent. The Taoiseach stated today that the Minister had written to the heads of the universities and third level colleges to ask them to ensure students would retain access to facilities. As of last night, at Athlone Institute of Technology that was not the case. I ask the Minister to bring up that matter again.

Last night I spoke to students encountering difficulties in applying for the back-to-education allowance because they did not have proof of registration for the local social welfare office. Perhaps the Minister might speak to his Cabinet colleague about this. Also last night there was the unbelievable story of Fr. Shay Casey, the welfare officer at Athlone Institute of Technology, who stated there was no money left in the hardship fund-----

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