Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House today and as Senator Gallagher has noted, the Joint Committee on Education and Skills has been looking at the Cassells report and the Wake-up SUSI report. The Wake-up SUSI campaign was started by a group of students from my own native Limerick who attend Griffith College and some of them are in Dublin, as well as in the business college in Castletroy. Approximately 140 students are affected by this at present. They met the Minister of State recently and have met the Minister, Deputy Bruton, in the past. They certainly have run a successful campaign. All of the points they have made are valid. A number of them are from low-income families. The same course may be on offer in Dublin or in Cork but the problem for a lot of them is they cannot afford to travel. It keeps down the cost for them to be able to stay at home. Some of them are single parents who have applied for the course. What has added to their confusion is that some colleges that offer courses have advertised on the CAO form but did not make it clear that such courses were not eligible under the SUSI grant. That has caused a layer of confusion for students.

Some other private colleges are accredited by the institutes of technology and because of that are eligible for SUSI grants. I am aware of a music course, for example, and a number of other courses that fall into this category. Some people have learning difficulties and find that attending private colleges with smaller class sizes is easier for them than sitting in a big group of maybe 200 people at a lecture. Some valid cases are being made by the students.Approximately 140 have been affected and some are afraid they will have to drop out if they are not eligible for the grant because they will not be able to afford the fees. Many have had to get part-time jobs. However, I compliment the Department on providing increased funding.

We want to encourage people to go to third level but also to pursue training and apprenticeships. Many of the people who participate in these courses are in education for the second time. They might not have been encouraged to go to third level when they left school so they go back as young adults . They have families - who they do not want to leave at home - so they cannot afford to go to accredited colleges. If a number of students are given the SUSI grant, I am sure others will apply for it. However, our long-term aim is to encourage people into education and bigger classes do not suit everybody's needs. It is important that we examine the circumstances behind why people apply to go to private colleges. In many cases it is because the college is on their doorstep and they cannot afford to go to the universities or the institutes of technology in other cities. They offer the same courses and they get the same accreditation as those who go to the universities and the institutes but who can avail of the SUSI grant.

Students made their case to the Minister and I support their case. Anything the Department can do to support them would help. There was a cross-party recommendation from all members on the education committee because we were very impressed with the case that was made.