Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the income thresholds and SUSI, in particular, we have a massive shortage of skills and labour in the tourism and hospitality sector and there is a disincentive for many young people. I worked right through college and school, on weekends and even on weeknights, to try to help pay my way through college. For the SUSI gross income consideration, all of that income should be disregarded or there should be stronger disregards. It is an area I ask the Minister to look at. Not only would it benefit the families and students involved but it would also benefit the wider economy, including the hospitality businesses that are struggling to attract people to work in their restaurants, bars and cafés, as well as other retailers across the economy where there is a shortage of labour. There should never be a disincentive to work in this economy and country but some of those disincentives remain and it is an area the Minister could possibly examine with his colleagues in government around the Cabinet table. The Minister might see if he can come up with a better solution to ensure there is always an incentive for people to work, particularly people who are trying to support themselves through college.

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