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

On this point, I ask the Minister to look at the situation of part-time students and the support we do not give them. At 19%, we are below the OECD average of 22% for part-time students. In the review of SUSI, we saw that 47% of postgraduates and 25% of undergraduates said they would consider going back to study if they had the financial support to do that. This is a matter we must seriously evaluate in respect of what supports we provide, the free fees initiative and the SUSI eligibility rules for part-time students. I ask the Minister to undertake this work.

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