Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I was contacted last night by the excellent Labour Youth student branch at Maynooth University over its concerns that the proposed student centre and hub will not be going ahead as promised. My concern, which is shared by the Labour Youth student branch, is that students have been paying a student levy towards this building since 2015 with the promise that it would be built in the quickest possible time. I listened to my local radio station KFM on the way into the House this morning where the issue was raised and discussed. The programme's presenter Eoin Beatty read a statement from Maynooth University that the levy would be ring-fenced and only used for student matters. There is an obvious concern among the students in Maynooth University about what is happening to their much-needed student hub, given the significant increase in the student population there over recent years. The Labour Party student branch is also rightly asking about where the student levy money is at this time and indeed how much is in the fund since 2015. I ask the Leader to raise this important matter with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. He needs to tell us what he knows about this important matter. As has been said by other public representatives this morning, there is a need for all the relevant bodies to get together with the management of the university to evaluate the current position regarding the much-needed centre and to plan a path forward for its completion.

I also wish to raise the ongoing issue of school bus transport. I continue to receive daily calls from families that previously had tickets and are now finding it extremely difficult if not impossible to get their children to school. Some people have had to hand in their notice. There was an announcement in the budget of €10 million for fuel and school transport. In her press conference yesterday, the Minister for Education seemed to indicate that the Government and her Department were trying to facilitate those families that had applied on time and previously had concessionary tickets. It would be very useful if we could get clarity on this. When she was in this House for a Commencement matter and a Private Members' debate, the Minister indicated that she had sought extra money. Thankfully, it would seem that this was achieved in some form. The clarity sought by so many people who are contacting me concerns whether they have to reapply or contact Bus Éireann again, what their chances of getting a ticket are and, most importantly, how long this process will take. Any assistance with this matter would be welcomed by many people.

I ask again for a debate in this House on the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. There was a welcome increase in the defence budget, with talk of new planes and primary radar. Unfortunately, our Defence Force numbers are heading below 8,000 for the first time in over 50 years - far below the number envisaged in the report, which proposed up to 3,000 new recruits. This, in the first instance, is the biggest threat to our Defence Forces. Simply put, too many loyal members are leaving because of pay. They cannot continue to live on promises and reports. Their families need those pay increases. That is the simple fact. I would appreciate the chance to discuss this further with the Minister for Defence if that could be arranged.