Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. That is a comprehensive suite of measures that he has secured in the most recent budget and over a number of years. I welcome that. It makes a massive difference to students and their families all over the country. At a Government level, these things might seem like a small change but they can be hugely significant for families, for people who are struggling and for those who are trying to improve their futures and prospects. I welcome every measure that has been taken to date.

There are always things that people in our constituencies will contact us about in order that they can have them changed and improved. I urge the Minister to continue his work in trying to ensure that the costs of third-level education and further education are reduced for as many people as possible. One area in particular that I want to be looked at is the SUSI thresholds because we need to be cognisant of them, given inflation and wage inflation.

I will mention one particular area about which a woman outlined her story to me some time ago. I have raised this previously with the Minister and I want to raise it again, namely, the case of widows, widowers and SUSI. Their scenario needs to be looked at and we need to see if we can do something exceptional for people in that scenario because it is extremely difficult, as the Minister knows, for parents on one income to put children through college. In a case where there is one income that is reasonably good but where there are numerous children, people can get caught in that trap as well.

See this speech in context