Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

All options will be on the table when I discuss this matter with the Ministers, Deputies Donohoe and McGrath. Regarding Deputy Boyd Barrett's comment about the 19th century, if we had a 19th-century approach to third level education, I would never have had the chance to go to university because I did not go to a private school. That is the reality. This country has been transformed through investment in primary, secondary and tertiary education. This has allowed people from backgrounds similar to mine to go to university. We would never in a million years have been able to do so otherwise.

Regarding the fees, the cost to the Exchequer of the free fees initiative is €357.9 million. In 2022-23, 141,000 students benefitted from the initiative and €156 million was paid towards student contributions under the student grant scheme. These are not insignificant amounts of money. I agree that with a growing population we always need more. There is a budgetary constraint that we will be working towards between now and when the next budget is presented. I will take on board all ideas, regardless of where they come from.

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