Bríd Smith presses ministers on €1,000 cut for repeat students
Bríd Smith questioned the exclusion of repeat students from a promised €1,000 cost-of-living reduction for third-level fees and urged ministers to revisit the decision. She also raised the Community CAR scheme, local funding streams, concerns about bureaucratisation of grants, and the controlled burning of scrub under an annual derogation.
Cost-of-living reduction and repeat students
She highlighted that a cohort of students who must repeat the year are being excluded from the €1,000 cost-of-living reduction for third-level fees and argued these students are often more economically vulnerable and work more part-time to stay in college. Bríd Smith asked that the situation be reviewed and for the small amount of funding to be granted to those repeat students; she said the Minister is examining the matter and will come back to the House.
Community CAR scheme and local funding
She described the Community CAR scheme as commendable and noted many community schemes are doing effective work. Bríd Smith suggested there are localised funding options from the Department of Community Rural Affairs that communities could tap into and said she and others will follow up with both Ministers to see what can be done, while warning that formalising grants can lead to bureaucracy and delay.
Burning of scrub and the derogation
On agricultural burning, she sought clarity about burning in farmyards versus general farm land, saying scrub and brush may need controlled burning but yard burning should not occur. She noted there is an annual derogation signed each January, that the Minister for Agriculture is aware of the issue, and that she will raise it with the Minister; she also challenged colleagues to address biodiversity and restoration concerns.
Other issues and closing remarks
Bríd Smith indicated the House would be updated on an Energy Charter issue raised by a colleague and acknowledged other interventions during the session. The record of her closing remarks includes a series of brief, garbled comments which conclude her contribution to the debate.
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Bishock, I would like you to look at the cost of living reduction of the promised €1,000 from third level fees. There is a cohort who are not going to get this reduction and they are students who have to repeat the year. And in many cases these cohort of students are more economically vulnerable, may have to work more part-time work to keep themselves in college. But can you explain why this extraordinary step is taken to exclude this cohort from the €1,000 promised as a cost of living reduction measure? And can you please look at granting this cohort that small amount of funding? First of all, Deputy Smith, I know the Minister is examining that situation in terms of repeat students. This is a cost of living measure, so we are examining that and we will come back to the House in respect of that. Yes, I will talk to the Minister about it again because we did raise it over a week ago. The second issue, Marion Harkin, in terms of the Community CAR scheme, it is a very commendable scheme. Many community schemes are doing great work like that. No, there are a variety of localised funding from the Department of Community Rural Affairs that people maybe could tap into it. And we will follow up with both Ministers to see what can be done. The danger is once you start formalising grants and stuff like that, you are into all sorts of bureaucracy and stuff. So it is what can be done speedily and quickly would be of interest. Deputy Healy Ray, are you saying burning in the farmyard or you mean in the general farm? It is scrub and brush that needs to be burned. You should not be burning it on the yard any more. There was a derogation, I know, do not mind trying to make fun of it now. I am not, I am serious about that. This is a derogation. You know, well you should know, you have the t-shirt. There is a derogation signed every January. Okay, but I will talk to the Minister in respect of the issue that you raised. I just wanted to get clarity as to what it is. The Minister for Agriculture is well aware of it. Maybe you are not, I am sorry if you are not. Some fine day you will stand up and raise biodiversity with me and the need to restore it at some stage. But I await that day in this House. Deputy Costell then has an issue. Again, we will come back to that in respect of the Energy Charter. Thank you very much. McDonalds, from day 19, 2020 Mr. Pres asylum. Thank you very much, Mr. Presley. And, to be blogging here, Mr. Presley. Best Job Calendar is a project for the manufacturing system.
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