William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)

Will the Minister today commit to honouring the programme for Government promise to continue to reduce the student contribution fee during the lifetime of this Government? The policy has had a real impact, reducing the cost of education and easing pressure on families. This Government must stick to our commitment to support working families, deliver on the student contribution fee promise and build on the progress already made.

Does the Minister realise what has happened with regard to this €1,000? It is putting 100 hours extra work on all young students who are working hard during the summer in fast food takeaways and shops, milking cows or driving tractors. That is what this €1,000 is doing. Not every student, indeed not many at all, has parents with deep pockets who can come up with this €1,000. There are young kids in every one of our communities who now have to work an extra 100 hours during the summer in order to pay the extra €1,000. The Minister referred earlier to extending SUSI grants and all of that but the bottom line is that they have to have that money when they go to college in September. I am pleading with the Minister not to go ahead with this.

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