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

I thank the Minister for the overview of this area. Typically, I understand that the free fee scheme acts as the qualifying criterion in this regard. For a whole range of different reasons, though, students may be attending different courses and they will be feeling the same pressures in respect of accommodation, energy and food cost-of-living issues as everybody else. Being in that situation is not determined by the course being pursued. For these students, therefore, to be able to access the fee reduction is important, if this opportunity is possible. It is good that the Minister engaged with various stakeholders on this issue. Has the question emerged regarding quantifying how many people find themselves in this situation on these courses? Has the Minister been able to get a measure of this problem?

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