Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

Ireland is number one in the world in terms of participation in third level education. That is the measure of this Government's commitment to students in third level education in terms of supporting students with reduced fees over the last number of years, improving the various maintenance and SUSI schemes for students, and building more accommodation, which is currently under construction in a whole range of programmes. We support students in this country; the statistics show that. In respect of the measures the Minister brought to Cabinet today, it is to develop a standardised design in relation to State-backed student accommodation. We need flexibility and choice in the range of accommodation that is on offer. There is significant State-backed student accommodation already built and in place and being built. Students use the existing rental market for rental accommodation also. The measures we brought in last week will strengthen protections for renters overall.

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