I was listening to the Minister, Deputy James Lawless's, plans for smart scheduling when it comes to lectures. While at first glance it seems like a positive step, it really misses the point when it comes to college education. I would like the Minister to consider the other side of this debate. Many of us know the importance of the gaps between lectures when students go for coffee or hang out at the arts block, the library or the student bar. Many of our young people are incredibly lonely. They are commuting for hours to get to college because they cannot find accommodation and they cannot go out with their friends because many of them do not live anywhere near the campus. College is about deepening a person's education, but it is also a rite of passage. It is where young people fly the nest and start to get their independence and return home at the weekends. They learn to manage their budget, to cook, to realise that their washing is not done by a magic fairy, and to clean and look after themselves. This Government and previous Governments have failed our young students. They cannot afford to rent, and for those who are can, there is no accommodation for them. The lack of public transport means that they have no opportunity to go out for a drink with friends, and many universities do not even have parking spaces for students because we are supposed to be walking or taking public transport, which often does not exist.

The Minister has also introduced talent scouting to bring international academics to Ireland. Where does he plan on housing them? Our homegrown academics cannot access funding or accommodation, yet the Minister is focusing his time on recruiting international academics. His focus should be on addressing issues at home and supporting our students, not on global missions to source academics abroad.