Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Whatever it is with the public, these Senators have made their mark with it. An odd time, I might hear another name but those are the two names that will always come up.

I wish candidates standing in the general election well. I refer to a few of my own colleagues and colleagues on the other side of the House standing in the general election. I also wish those who may or may not be contesting the next Seanad election well.

For me, it has been an honour and a privilege to have been elected to Seanad Éireann. I am honoured to have sat on the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection, which is the committee that is dear to my heart and one that I probably would have been most au faitwith. I have made many friends whom I hope I will remain friends with. Regardless of whether we are in the next Seanad, I hope we will remain friends down through the years.

Something that kept coming up during my term in the Seanad was how difficult it was for parents who are on social welfare to put their children through third level education. Even with the special rate of the SUSI third level grant, it is difficult. The grant barely covers accommodation. There is also travel, books and the student's living expenses. Parents on social welfare just do not have the money to give them. We must develop some sort of system, even a loan system. It is difficult, in particular, for students who must repeat because such students cannot access the third level grant. That is life. Students fail examinations and must repeat them. I hope the next Government and, in particular, the Seanad, will moot a system where we can help those students who are in financial distress.