Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for her question. I cannot give her information in respect of the student contribution fees at present. However, an awful lot has been done in respect of facilitating students to gain access to third level and to get financial support. I know the threshold for SUSI grants has now increased to €115,000 per family. I note what the Deputy said about what is in the Social Democrats pre-budget submission. Obviously, issues in respect of the contribution fees will be considered in the context of the budget. I am not going to say, and nor do I know, whether there will be any announcement in the budget next week in respect of it. Certainly, though, significant measures have been put in place by the Government to try to facilitate persons at third level.

See this speech in context