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

I would have liked to see that the cost of education paper produced earlier so that we would be ready for September. I welcome the fact that the budget is being brought forward. I am still concerned with the mounting costs and about students who are planning to go to college this year. People are really worried.

We have to remember that the increases that were made last year and that are coming into effect this year were the first in ten years. Sometimes I think that what annoys people is that announcements are made but that one has to look under the bonnet to see the impact they will have. Can the Minister imagine ten years without any increase and all the extra costs that are there? The SUSI review showed there was a need for a 25% increase just to keep up with the rising cost of living, which has been chipping away at the real value of supports for years. That has left many low- and middle-income families very exposed to inflation this year.

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