Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Ministers on their appointments. It is exciting to see a focused new Department and I look forward to working with the Ministers, especially with regard to the shocking rates of sexual assault and rape in our third level and further education institutions in Ireland. There are many other issues and today I will focus on the reopening of colleges in these unique times. The reopening of third level education will be as challenging as the reopening of schools. Colleges and universities are doing the best they can to prepare against a backdrop of some uncertainty. Students and families need the Minister's Department to provide clarity and the necessary resources.

It has been reported that the Minister plans to provide more than 1,000 extra college places for high-demand courses to ease pressure. While any initiative that enables more people to attend college is welcome, will the corresponding resources be put in place too to support that? More students will put additional stress on a third level sector that operates at nearly full capacity already. Medical courses cost multiples of what the universities receive per student. Numbers of dental students are limited by the number of dental chairs, for example. The announcement of additional numbers is welcome but has to coincide with the announcement of additional resources. There is the knock on effect for student healthcare and mental health services, accommodation, and the vastly over-subscribed SUSI. Without proper resources, these additional places will only be for those who can afford it.

The media coverage has focused on prominent courses, such as medicine, law, and engineering. Has the Minister examined if additional places will be needed in further education and skills training too? Will apprenticeship schemes, agricultural courses, and others need more capacity as well? The provision of extra places also presents a challenge when colleges have to implement social distancing. Will this result in a de factopolicy of many courses going mostly, if not entirely, online? If so, when will students be informed? Many are making decisions about booking accommodation now so they need to know. Will the Minister outline what levels of engagement he has had with colleges and universities about these additional places? Were they aware of them?

The focus will fall firmly on leaving certificate results and college admissions next week. While much attention has understandably been on this year's leaving certificate students, who have endured uncertainty for months, those who are entering third level through other means are also impacted. In some cases, up to 30% of admissions are from students who have not completed the leaving certificate that year. The Minister's Department needs to provide clear guidance on how these students will be supported. Those using last year's results to access college, students completing the leaving certificate applied, mature students and others need clarity. What assurances can the Minister give that these students will be treated fairly in the coming weeks?

The Union of Students in Ireland and others have rightly called for a reduction in student contribution fees to reflect the challenges students and their families face at this unique time. Third level education is a public service and it should be available to everyone. Earlier this week, the Minister said that registration fees for students are too high and he would like to see fees addressed. I agree. Will this reduction be expedited immediately because it is essential that it helps this year's students, who are facing considerable uncertainty, loss of income, and additional costs?

The SUSI system, an essential lifeline for many, defines students in the early stages as dependent or independent when they first apply. Even if their personal circumstances dramatically change, they remain categorised according to that initial assessment. This feature of the statutory instrument at times deprives students of support they are entitled to. Will the Minister assure us that a more flexible system that allows students to change their classification from dependent to independent, if that is the case, will be put in place?

I did not realise there was such a thing as business that did not have questions. I am not sure what the point of making a statement is. If the Minister does not mind, and it is okay if he does not want to, will he address that issue of if one has to change from dependent to independent, a natural thing to do in one's college years?

See this speech in context