We move to Questions on Policy or Legislation. We have 73 applicants and 15 have been chosen. We will begin with Deputy McDonald.

Last week, the Government brought forward a plan, the net effect of which will be to cause rents to rise across the board. One particular group who will be affected by this are students. Having said initially the Government would have their backs, it is now clear it does not have their backs because those renting in the private sector will suffer, just like others, as landlords can seek market-rate rents. Now it has this plan for State-backed designated student accommodation. It seems it intends to pack students in like sardines in a can, with shared bedrooms, shared bathrooms, communal kitchens and so on and so forth. It will be lessor accommodation and still very high rents. What does the Government have against students? Why is it determined to put them and their families on the hook to be ripped off?

Ireland is number one in the world in terms of participation in third level education. That is the measure of this Government's commitment to students in third level education in terms of supporting students with reduced fees over the last number of years, improving the various maintenance and SUSI schemes for students, and building more accommodation, which is currently under construction in a whole range of programmes. We support students in this country; the statistics show that. In respect of the measures the Minister brought to Cabinet today, it is to develop a standardised design in relation to State-backed student accommodation. We need flexibility and choice in the range of accommodation that is on offer. There is significant State-backed student accommodation already built and in place and being built. Students use the existing rental market for rental accommodation also. The measures we brought in last week will strengthen protections for renters overall.