Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)

I listened carefully to what the Minister said but, with respect, it is a somewhat Alice in Wonderland approach for parents and students listening in because what I think he said was that people may think that this is an increase but really it is an reduction. That is not the reality. What people will feel in their pockets this year is that they will be paying an extra €1,000. That is the reality for people, no matter how it is sugar-coated or explained away. The Minister said that last year's reduction was just for one year but the programme for Government committed to continuing to reduce and contained an explicit statement about doing so at the start of each academic year. We are approaching the start of the 2025-26 academic year and parents and students have no certainty. Indeed, they are now led to believe that there will be an extra €1,000 to be paid. However the Minister explains it away, people are feeling it. They are feeling the shock of this, they are genuinely worried and it has genuinely thrown budgeting plans in disarray for many households. That is why we are seeking clarity and joining with students and others next week to protest and to seek a further Government U-turn on this hugely important issue.

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