Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Carlow woman Rhona Cullinan for winning the prestigious and inspirational Woman's Waymum of the year award. We often celebrate medals in sport and accolades in businesses. I wanted to celebrate an award for motherhood. It is a job which many of the population do incredibly well but behind the scenes. Rhona is well-known for her advocacy for Down's syndrome and autism. She is a mother to Jamie, who is 15, Joshua, who is four, and Molly, who is two, and I wish her well.

I want to talk about the priority processing for the student universal support Ireland, SUSI, grant, which is closing. Applications will continue to be processed over the summer but the message for thousands of students around the country is to apply now. The SUSI grant is incredible and allows those who are disadvantaged to attend college. It is time to look at the ways to qualify for the special rate of the grant. The special rate is for those with income under €24,000. It is directly linked to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. I call for it to be increased to allow for access for working families who are not in receipt of social welfare but perhaps qualify for working family payment or where each parent is in receipt of a State pension. SUSI grants and giving students a chance to get to college are crucial.

I agree with Senator Ardagh about the proposals made by the Central Bank of Ireland to increase the credit union annual membership levies. In my area, Carlow, there will be an increase of €40,000. That is unacceptable. There are 30,000 members in the Carlow Credit Union. Credit unions are not for profit. This levy is unacceptable. I ask that the Minister come into the House and address this. It will eventually go back to members of credit unions. I will second Senator Ardagh's proposal that we bring the Minister into the House. This levy is unacceptable.