Rónán Mullen (Independent)

My comments are not directed at the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran. I am sorry to have to criticise the Department of Education and Science twice in one day but it is ironic to refer to the framework of good practice and to principles of transparency when there is little transparency evident in the reply. The word that comes to mind is "spin" when I consider the allegation that colleges are spending more on student services than they have been receiving by way of the student services charge and that the increase of up to €600 is somehow necessary to defray the costs of student services.