John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I would not argue with the Minister of State's response except for the last point about appreciating that the proposal to move to introduce a different method of means assessment or to abandon the means testing requirement for students dependent on those in receipt of State contributory pensions would have significant financial implications. I do not know the figure in terms of the numbers of third level students who are dependent on those in receipt of State pensions but I cannot accept that the sum would be significant in terms of the overall cost. I would think it is a very small proportion of the overall spend on third level fees for people going to college. I would say a small proportion of those students are dependent on people in receipt of the State contributory pension. I understand what the Minister of State said but in terms of what I would regard as a very small group of people, the Government could examine some initiative for the future. Perhaps the next Government will get the opportunity to examine it sooner rather than later.