Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)

I rise today to also support the call in respect of the increased cost of education that was announced over the weekend. In the programme for Government, in the higher education sector section, it is stated:

This Government will:

Provide more further education and training places nationally.

Continue to reduce the Student Contribution Fee over the lifetime of the Government to ease the financial burden on students and their families at the start of each academic year, in a financially sustainable manner.

That is in the programme for Government that was signed up to by all Government parties. I am not sure where the Minister, Deputy Lawless, was coming from when he spoke about the €1,000 increase but I believe it has to be reversed. There are three third level institutes in Limerick where I am from and I have been inundated with calls from families and students, some of them even saying that it would not be cost effective for them to continue to attend college. Something needs to be reversed and this needs to be looked at again on behalf of the Government.

The other item I would like to raise is vaping indoors. In the previous Seanad, I and the Fine Gael party bought forward a Private Members' Bill to do with vaping and the fact it should not happen indoors. There have been a number of concerts and different events held in Ireland over the past couple of weeks. There have been many complaints from people about people vaping indoors beside them. I believe the law needs to be strengthened and there needs to be greater enforcement of the law regarding it. People should not have to put up with people vaping alongside them, especially indoors, which is the big issue. Any support from the Leader on this matter would be appreciated.