Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice for tabling this very relevant question. The Minister referred to not increasing income taxes but, of course, the Government did choose to increase the registration fee for those who do not receive a grant, as stated in the question. The registration fee is to increase from what the party of the Minister, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, promised would be €2,000 to €3,000 this coming September. That charge is being placed directly on families, particularly working families, who are trying to send young people to college. This is making it increasingly difficult. It is now impossible for many of them, particularly if they wish to send more than one child at a time. Many families are facing the question of whether they will be able to send one or more children to college.

I ask the Minister of State to comment on access to postgraduate courses. How exactly does the Government expect postgraduate students to be able to fund their way through college in light of the fact that the Minister removed the postgraduate grant during the time of this Government, meaning that one cannot undertake a postgraduate course unless one can afford to do so?

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