Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The student representatives outlined to us the impact on students. It is a huge struggle to get through college in the first place with the rents and other living costs, given the existing registration fee the previous Fine Gael-Labour Government dramatically increased. All of that adds to making it very difficult, particularly for people from disadvantaged areas. The Minister and I both represent a number of areas where the uptake of third level education is still below 15% or 20%, which needs to be the Minister's first task even as an ordinary Deputy.

We have had analysis on the economic front and the Minister mentioned his liaison with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe. A recent report by Dr. Charles Larkin shows that income-contingent loans could cost the Exchequer up to €10 billion, thereby adding significantly to our national debt. Because so many young Irish people traditionally emigrate, there could be a very negative impact on our national debt over which there are grave concerns, particularly in 2019 and 2020.

Overall it is clear that it would be disastrous, particularly for children, second chance education, maturer students, students with disabilities and so on. I urge the Minister not to go down that route.

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