James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will respond in reverse order, taking Deputy Conway-Walsh's points first. I am not sure I accept that there is a line of student accommodation strategies from here to Mayo. Student accommodation was not a government function until very recently, when it came into my Department. It is an easy thing to throw out in a debate but I do not know how accurate it is.

I presume the Deputy will agree that we need to reduce the cost of provision, which means we can do more with less. I presume she also agrees that we need to standardise design guidance, as we have done for secondary schools, for example. We also need to promote the efficient use of existing stock. There are good reasons for rethinking this. I am a new Minister and am currently looking at what is working and what is not working.

I hope the Deputy will agree we are doing that. I am engaged in that process at the moment. As with everything else, I welcome suggestions and inputs. Much as I would love to convene a working group for Maynooth and north Kildare, I remind Deputy Farrelly that I am Minister for the entire country.

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