Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State into the House and I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter. I hope the Minister of State comes with good news. I have heard, in the past number of days, that the young adult card will be extended to 16- to 18-year-olds. I hope the Minister of State will confirm that in his reply. I and, indeed, other colleagues have called for this on a number of occasions in this House.

Over the past number of weeks, I have been contacted by a large number of students and parents who are worried about the cost, especially those who are starting third-level education for the first time. Some of those are only 16, 17 or 18 years of age. They sit alongside colleagues and other fellow students who are aged 19 and who are paying twice what those students pay. That is not acceptable.

I will give some examples in my own area of Kildare South. A 17-year-old who is just beginning first year in Maynooth University is paying €90, compared to the student's older sibling who is paying €45 to take the same bus. In South East Technological University Carlow, we have students who are paying €35 while those under 19 are paying €70. There is an accommodation crisis, of which I am sure the Minister of State will be aware, and a climate crisis. We need to look after those younger people who are travelling and have been left with no option but to travel to third level education.

I hope the Minister of State will confirm in his reply that he has extended this card to 16- and 18-year-olds. That extension would be accepted and welcomed by a great many people, because it is totally unacceptable to have one sibling paying less than another on the same bus or young people paying up to €200 and €250 per month more than those who are older.