Catherine Callaghan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I speak today about the cost of third level education in Ireland. The programme for Government states the Government will reform SUSI to better meet the needs of students and their families. This is something I welcome and I urge the Government to take action on it from this year onwards. My question today relates to the discontinuation of the reduction in the student contribution fee. Since the Minister, Deputy Lawless, made the announcement at the weekend, my phone has been hopping with parents and students throughout my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny worried and anxious about how they will find an additional €1,000 to put towards their student contribution fee in two months' time. Making education more accessible to hard-pressed parents is something I campaigned very strongly on during the general election. I know for a fact it is something that we in Fine Gael negotiated to be in the programme for Government. Now is not the time to row back on commitments made during the previous election and by this Government. How can the Minister justify increasing the student contribution fee for hard-pressed parents?

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