Linda Nelson Murray (Fine Gael)

Okay, so it is going to cost €35 million to do it, but there is a tax gain to the Government, there is a gain for businesses, there is a gain for students, and there is a gain for parents. We should not even have to think about this. The minimum wage is €12.15 for a 19-year-old. If they earn that, or the current full minimum wage of €13.50, and work the summer, Christmas and Easter holidays, they are covered for their holiday earnings. I do not know whether the Minister of State worked during college or not, but students should not be penalised in their SUSI grant for working at weekends throughout college. What I am proposing allows students to work a further 290 hours throughout the year. That spread throughout all the other weeks is only one day per week.It is one eight-hour shift or two four-hour shifts that we are allowing students to work without it coming off their SUSI grant. I want to see this and I will be pushing for it to happen in the budget.