Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Minister to do everything possible. I hear his sentiments on not excluding students from education. I am fearful that people's choices will be greatly reduced because of the high cost of accommodation and the high cost of accessing third level education. I fear that students will need to work while they study and am concerned about what that will do in terms of outcomes for students. We really need to concentrate our focus on the matter. Inflation is now at 6.7%. We see that in Britain, it has risen to 9%. I would not be surprised at all if we are at double-digit levels of inflation by the end of this year. The severe impact of that cannot be underestimated, particularly for families who perhaps have two or three students going to college, and some going to secondary school. We, in opposition, will work with the Minister. We need to work collectively to do everything possible to alleviate that burden on students and families.

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