Fianna Fáil Senator and Seanad Spokesperson on Higher Education, Innovation and Science Malcolm Byrne has said that rather than spending potentially €1m on mandatory hotel quarantining of Erasmus students, that the monies should be used to assist such students in difficulty in extending their stay in other EU countries.
Senator Malcolm Byrne commented, “Few students will want to come home early and many Erasmus students extend their time in an EU country generally, to travel or to work. Is it not better to provide them with supports to continue to develop their languages and other skills than confine them in a hotel for two weeks?”
“The Erasmus programme goes far beyond the university learning aspect; it allows students the opportunity to gain international and intercultural competencies as well as develop their cultural awareness.
“Rather than have students return home and face two weeks quarantining in a hotel room at a cost of €1 million to the state, we should be encouraging students to stay on in their Erasmus towns and cities and continue to experience the cultural differences and develop their language skills.”
