Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I think there is an important piece of work to be done to assess the impact in as comprehensive a way as possible. Depending on his or her starting point, the experience of Covid might make or break an individual in terms of the realisation of the opportunity of third level education. Some people who might have hung in there might drop out so I would encourage a continuation of that assessment in a holistic way, not just for those who drop out but also in terms of mental health and well-being.

Could the Minister give us his sense of what the next semesters will look like? I raised it with him previously in terms of trying to get first years on campus. What do the next semesters look like? I know we are ambitious about the vaccine, but we must be realistic as well. I would welcome a response from the Minister.

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