Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I fully accept the challenges, and do so against a context and a backdrop of really high levels of participation rates in third level education. I am trying to take a number of steps to provide more pathways and opportunities, including providing universities in the regions. The idea that everyone has to move to a big city means that there can be a last-minute scramble, which causes some challenges. Indeed, it can cause a dearth of a younger population in a region as well.

When I answer these questions, it often highlights the need to have more college-owned, State-owned student accommodation. I would be misleading the House if I suggested that this is anything other than my policy desire. We need to have more college-owned student accommodation because that provides us with levers in terms of the design. I often meet with students who tell me they do not want to be paying for the frills.

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