Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

The case for this amendment has been well put by Senators Burke and Norris. This is a crazy proposal. The Minister is a sensible, humane person who has her feet on the ground and knows the problem. This is a problem she can resolve. Will she state exactly the amount of money about which we are talking? The amount involved is small, but its loss will have a profound effect on the people who receive the allowance.

Those who make the transition to college at 18 or 19 years of age have every advantage. They leave secondary education and go to third level. Vast sums were spent on them before the introduction of free tuition fees. Four fifths of the total cost was paid by the State but now the total cost is paid. If one calculates how much the State pays for individuals, such as myself and others who went directly to college at 18 or 19 years of age, it is a massive investment. Some €100,000 is paid in direct subventions by the State to colleges for every student over a three or four year period.

The people about whom we are talking have taken the decision to go back to education. They are not looking for €100,000, €50,000 or €20,000 but for a small payment which will make a difference and enable them to remain in college and leave the education process better qualified and equipped to accept new jobs in the labour market. Anyone from any walk of life, irrespective of his or her qualifications, who takes a decision to go back to college is trodden on when it comes to getting the support to which he or she is entitled. He or she is constantly under the cosh when it comes to making financial payments to colleges for books or maintenance payments.

People at 18 or 19 years of age have it quite good because the State pays their way. If their parents' income is below a certain level, they will get a maintenance payment. They will be able to get a job in the labour market at 21 or 22 years of age. However, those who leave work to go back to college on a full-time basis are not supported, which is ludicrous. The investment I got as a student when I started college at 18 or 19 years of age was mammoth compared to the small sums people in their thirties or forties who want to go back to college are looking for.