Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am concerned that the future debate in this area will be distorted. We need to ensure a public understanding of the two separate issues which need to be addressed. The first is costs for students. It is welcome that the Minister has announced a review of SUSI. That will be important in ensuring that the support system in place will be able to meet students' demands. The second issue is the sustainability of the sector itself, keeping the doors open to these students, keeping talent in place and ensuring that Ireland contributes on the international stage. We know that these issues tend to be conflated but they are separate issues. Some of the parties opposite made no additional provision for the sustainability of the sector in their recent manifestos. If the Government were to deliver such an approach, it could be very damaging to the sector. Will the Minister speak to this and to the need to address both issues, that is, cost and sustainability, in the years ahead?

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