Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

That €200 will be consumed very quickly in the increased costs in fuel etc. that students will experience. Can the Minister give clarity on the issue of transportation? I know it is not his Department but it is frustrating for students who were told they would get this and are waiting for it to happen. There is no clarity on when it will happen and it is happening at a snail's pace.

Today the Minister provided me with an answer to a written question about salaries in his Department. Since he took office just less than two years ago, just shy of €500,000 has been spent on special advisers. I have asked this of all Ministers because €500,000 is big money and would pay full college fees for a year for 167 students. There is a deep difference between the €200 that will be given to students in the SUSI grant increase and the largesse being expended on special advisers. How many special advisers work in the Department and what do they do?

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