James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I want to get away from the negativity and move towards the goal of a higher education system that achieves both excellence and access. Budget 2026 will move us a step forward towards that and build on the progress to date. Rather than scaremongering and whipping up anxiety, we should be clear with people about the supports that already exist. Households with incomes up to €115,000 will benefit from fee grants and supports this September. That is before we do anything else. That is already in the budget today. The SUSI application deadline is this Thursday, 10 July. There are multiple measures already in the system. Households with incomes of up to €115,000 are already eligible for supports. That may not be widely known but it is an historic high. It is the highest it has ever been. I have taken on board all of the points that have been made in this debate and more.

I have talked about Sinn Féin hypocrisy. I have asked questions about its alternative budget but I have not got any answers yet, straight or otherwise. It got its numbers wrong in its budget submission on this measure last year.

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