John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I thank Senator Browne for sharing his time with me. I want to speak about the increase in college registration fees. I finished college in May. At least, I hope I did, having regard to Senator Henry's point. I have a primary degree. Many of those with primary degrees end up going on to do postgraduate courses.

It is regrettable the Minister is not present. He made great play about living in the real world. The real world was brought home to me a month ago when I listened to a radio programme which I will not name. I listened to a student from Dublin who was returning to college this year. He said he would have to miss the first few weeks of college to continue working to meet the increase in college fees. That is the real world. The real world is not the Minister touring the country in his ministerial merc. That student who was returning to college in Dublin is living in the real world.

I received many representations from people my own age on an issue that greatly upset them. The time of the leaving certificate probably causes people more anxiety than any other in their lives. When the leaving certificate results were coming out and college places were to be announced, the Minister announced to those who were at their most vulnerable that there would be a 70% increase in college fees. The timing of his announcement left much to be desired. At the very least, it could have been done at a different stage.

I agree with the Leader of House that the emphasis should be on disadvantage, on which we are all at one, but the emphasis should not be to make everyone disadvantaged. It should be to bring up those who are disadvantaged and give them equal opportunities.