Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is an extremely important issue. As stated, it is causing untoward problems and difficulties, as well as stress and anxiety for students and their families. This should not be the case. Students should not face such a brutal distraction from their studies. They should not fear incurring the wrath of their colleges, as has been explained, rather they should be enjoying the facilities and services on offer within them.

The body set up to deal with the new applications must be somewhat culpable, but not to the same extent as the Minister with responsibility in this area. My colleagues and I have received numerous representations from student constituents and our pleas to elicit answers, explanations and solutions are falling on deaf ears, whether by means of correspondence with SUSI or the Minister's office.

As a party, no more than anyone else, we are in the process of preparing an alternative budget to that which the Government will produce. We acknowledge the gap between income and expenditure must continue to be closed. In recent times we have passed budgets which closed that gap by the tune of €20 billion; in one budget €8.5 billion was taken out in one swoop. The decisions on necessary adjustments left the Minister and his colleagues under no illusion about the task that lay ahead of them should they enter into government. When we propose our alternative budget, we will seek to have adjustments made which are fair and progressive and protect areas such as education, enterprise, disability and mental health.

Prior to the last general election, the Minister and his colleagues gave the public the distinct impression that there was an easier, softer way. The Minister also gave the impression that education would be prioritised, protected and cushioned against cuts, but independent observers made the comment after the announcement of the budget that it was neither fair nor progressive and that education had definitely not been prioritised, given the cuts for rural schools? The cuts affected two, three and four teacher schools, but they also affected DEIS schools. The numbers of special needs assistance hours and career guidance counsellors were cut. Foreign language initiatives in primary schools were also cut. In addition, the Minister reneged on the infamous Trinity College pledge on fees and registration charges.

It is not too late to act in a damage limitation exercise. The Minister should now do what he should have done in the first place in June when he announced SUSI, that is, adequately staff the office, adequately train the staff in it and adequately fund the office to do the job it was set up to do. If he does this, he will be correcting what has been a colossal cock-up and allow students to concentrate on student life, rather than waiting for Santa Claus to deliver a grant come Christmas.

It is rumoured in great circles around here that the Minister and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, aspire to be a Commissioner in Brussels. If that is the case - it may not be - the pair of them are going about it in the right way. The unfortunate part is, however, that it is having an effect on students and home owners, while the most unfortunate part is that the pair of them cannot be appointed. I commend the motion to the House.

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