Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I was contacted yesterday by a parent whose daughter is about to start college at UCD. Her timetable indicates that she will attend on campus for three days between now and January, yet the university is seeking full payment for her on-campus accommodation. The student and her parent have been told that they must pay up by this evening or her place will be cancelled. I acknowledge that the Minister stated there will be intervention on this matter, but I ask that the intervention by the Minister with responsibility for this area, Deputy Harris, whom I have contacted on this matter, be made today. Parents and students are under significant pressure after what has already been a very difficult year. We cannot have a situation where universities and colleges are charging full accommodation costs when students simply will not be on campus between now and January. Indeed, they may not be on campus for the rest of the academic year.

See this speech in context