Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the increase in the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, this week and the commitment by the Minister with responsibility for higher education to re-examine the Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, grants. However, it is important that we put in place supports for students immediately. Some students have on-campus commitments and rental commitments. We need a proper process for all third level institutions to ensure that refunds are given immediately. Also, we need a process around the private rental market for students. Additionally, now that students can no longer avail of the payments under the PUP scheme, we need to examine what has happened to those students who fall outside of the SUSI grant system and, therefore, cannot get the work they were doing at the weekends to be able to supplement their living. I ask, as a matter of urgency given the lockdown, that the Minister would look at how such people can be supported. We cannot see this generation sink into poverty any more than they already have. We need to ensure that people do not drop out. We need to ensure they get the education they want and require, because it is of benefit to society.