Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

I, too, welcome the students here tonight. I am pleading with the Government. Since last Sunday week there has been nothing but uncertainty. It is not fair. Many students and their families struggle to afford the student contribution charge even with grants and other forms of support. The cost of living makes it nearly impossible. This is in the programme for Government. Why did the Government put it in there if it is going to do the exact opposite? Reducing the student contribution fee back to €2,000 from €3,000 will help and be a start on what is in the programme for Government. As Deputy Paul Lawless said, it is cynical. If we ultimately abolish the fees, it will increase accessibility and participation in higher education, reduce student debt and the financial burden on students and families who are already struggling and provide long-term economic benefits to our young population. Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí is my mantra always. The last of my children thankfully finished college a year ago. It is a tough situation and, with the cost of living and increasing prices, it is worse.

During the last Government, the Minister, Deputy O’Donovan, set out this criteria. I have some sympathy for Deputy James Lawless and what he is trying to do. By trying to put out an alert he caused more confusion, however, and then there was the over and back. Sinn Féin has student fees in the North of Ireland and there is no talk about that. Here in the South, we must do something to alleviate the pressure on students. We need them to become doctors and many other professions.

It has been a bad week for education. The Minister is here tonight again and I need to bring up the following matter. The ETBs have been cut drastically. What has been cut? It is apprenticeships and LTI courses for all the young people who fell off the tracks and are trying to get back on. Why are we making such pernicious attacks on students? I do not know. It is simply not fair in a time of so much so-called wealth and income. Why attack the students? They are the very people we want. They are our future.

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