PJ Murphy (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for coming to the Seanad. I am happy to fully support the motion introduced by my colleagues, Senators Kennelly and Cathal Byrne.

As someone who has worked on the ground for many years in both the construction and agricultural sectors, I am very much encouraged by the inclusion in the motion of the promotion of driver education at secondary school. The vast majority of young people who live in rural Ireland have no alternative to driving as a means of getting to work and college. In the state of Illinois, USA, it is mandatory for all public high schools to offer driver education as part of the curriculum. A comprehensive two-year module, in which both theory classes and practical lessons behind the wheel are offered, culminates in a theory and practical exam similar to the driver theory test and driving test in this country. Given the importance of driving as a life skill, the achievement of a full licence should carry the same 100-point weighting as any other leaving certificate subject.

As the Fine Gael spokesperson on housing in the Seanad, I will touch on the current lack of student accommodation. Purpose-built student accommodation is the single quickest way of taking pressure off the housing situation in this State. Student accommodation can be delivered quickly and economically. Every time we provide a student housing place, we open up a space in the private rental market that would otherwise be occupied by a student.

As the Minister well knows, we have a huge private international education sector, Private schools profit greatly from fee-paying international English language students. These students, or cash cows as they may well be for the private profit-making educational companies, contribute greatly to the pressures on the private housing rental market. I suggest that we look closely at the implementation of a similar system as that in place at the Shawnee State University in Ohio, USA, where all international students are required to be housed in purpose-built student accommodation provided by the educational body in which they are enrolled.

I will speak about the earning restrictions for students in receipt of a SUSI payment. In terms of the means test for the payment, the student's own income is taken into account along with the income of the parents as opposed to the income of the parents only. This is a great pity and disincentivises hardworking students with a good work ethic from working as many hours as possible. At such a young age, when a young person's personality is developing, work should be encouraged to the maximum with the greatest possible reward and should certainly not be a reason for financial penalisation by the State.