Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Deputies who contributed to the debate, which is focused for understandable reasons on the operation of the student grant system. It is important to reiterate that whatever delays have arisen, the decision to centralise the processing of student grants was and remains a solid decision. Maintaining a system of 66 separate grant-awarding bodies in the face of rising demand was not sustainable, and I am confident the creation of SUSI will serve us well in future years.

We have had many genuine and heartfelt contributions across the House on this issue over the past two evenings, including the contribution from Deputy McConalogue last night, but the contribution earlier by Deputy Ó Cuív, who is rapidly becoming the primary purveyor of conspiracy theories in this House, suggesting that somehow the Minister or SUSI has deliberately delayed payment of grants to students, is so deluded it does not bear any further comment.

I acknowledge the issues that have arisen in the past two evenings and I welcome the apology made by the Minister, Deputy Quinn, last night to students and their parents for the distress that has been caused. It was refreshing to hear a Minister speak honestly about his role and responsibilities. It was equally refreshing to hear a Minister not attempt to abdicate responsibility and lay the blame at the door of others, a practice that was all too common in past Administrations.

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