Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join colleagues in extending thanks to the Cathaoirleach and the Ceann Comhairle and particularly to all the staff of the Houses for facilitating today's very important address by the President of Ukraine. The solidarity that was shown by the Members of both Houses reflects the solidarity of the people of this country. The scenes we are seeing in Bucha and other parts of Ukraine are just horrific. We need to continue to ensure that those who are responsible will be held to account.

I raise the question of higher education funding again. We are coming close to the anniversary of the publication of the Cassells report. We have not yet seen the publication of the European Commission review which the Department commissioned. It is not going to tell us anything we do not know. It is going to tell us that our higher education funding system is in crisis and that institutions are struggling to provide the basic services for students and researchers. It is essential this year that we address the question of core funding as well as the SUSI grant reform. While I would favour a cut in student fees in an ideal world, there is a fear that if there was such a cut, the money lost to the institutions would not be made up by the Exchequer. We have to ensure that the core funding grant issue is addressed. The Minister, Deputy Harris, said that it would have been addressed in 2021. That has not been the case. I have called for a debate on higher education funding. We have discussed the matter at the education committee. Nearly every witness who has come before that committee has said that priority has to be given to investing in core funding and reform of the SUSI grant scheme. A cut to student fees will not benefit the most disadvantaged students because about 42% of new entrants do not have to pay fees anyway as they are in receipt of a student grant. We have to ensure that the student grant is adequate. I ask that we have a debate on the future of higher education funding.

I hope colleagues will join me in extending congratulations to four students from Gorey Community School, Caoimhe Crean, Caoimhe Horan, Eoin Kelly and Pádraig Kinsella, who won the 2022 certified Irish Angus schools competition. They explored the environmental, ethical and economic benefits of the certified Irish Angus breed. The interesting thing is that none of those four students come from a farming background. They have an understanding of the breed and a love of agriculture. It would be appropriate for this House to extend our congratulations to them.