Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise two issues, namely, SUSI grants and students' well-being and mental health. The student grant limits need to be reviewed. Families are quickly finding themselves over the limit and students, therefore, ineligible for grants. While the pandemic is putting a downward pressure on incomes and there probably will be more people qualifying this year than in other years, it really should not take a pandemic for people to qualify for a SUSI grant. The income limits must be reviewed. I understand that the Minister recognises this and is taking steps to address it. Can that review be pushed on quickly in order that its findings are in place for people taking up college places next September? The review also needs to recognise that living 30 km to 40 km from a college is not living adjacent to it. The non-adjacent distance provision needs to be reviewed.

Students' well-being and mental health have to be a priority. No matter what college year they are in, they have been feeling increasingly disconnected from campus and their colleagues. They feel isolated at home. Internships may be cancelled or diluted but still contribute to the grade, thus putting additional pressure on students.

The Minister has recognised the issue of mental health among students and additional funding has been made available. Is the Minister measuring the success of this, however? How is it delivering for students? Students will quickly outline that they feel abandoned by the college and isolated at home, studying in their bedroom or the kitchen. Parents see their children becoming increasingly isolated, disconnected, stressed and worried. How is the Minister measuring the success of what he is doing? Is it being measured? It really needs to deliver for students. They are under such pressure, which is growing further.

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