Government putting ‘undue financial burden’ on students

Students and opposition politicians have staged a protest outside Leinster House, calling for more clarity on the rate of fees they will be paying.

The protest was organised ahead of a Sinn Fein motion in the Dail, calling for college fees to be reduced by 500 euro this September.

It comes amid a row and confusion on whether the Budget will include measures on student fees.

The student contribution fee has been temporarily reduced for the past three years as part of the cost-of-living packages accompanying the Budget.

The fees had been 3,000 euro before being temporarily cut by 1,000 euro, saving families with multiple children at third level thousands of euro per academic year.

However, it is not clear whether fees will be reduced as part of the Budget.

The Government has come under pressure to clarify its plans for student fees after Higher Education Minister James Lawless said that student contribution fees will increase as there is no cost-of-living package in the upcoming Budget.

He said that fees will have to be reset, which means they will revert to the same level as previous years.

Among the protesters, University College Cork Students Union President Alex Angland recalled a similar protest against 3,000 euro fees four years ago.

“They were then and still are now the highest fees in the EU. The average across the EU is 700 euro, less than a quarter of what we are paying.

“As the cost of living continues to increase, students are being pushed towards a breaking point.”

He added: “Education is right, not a privilege, yet the Government continues to place undue financial burden on students and their families.”

Earlier, Taoiseach Micheal Martin defended the Government’s stance on student fees, saying there are “lots of instruments” to help students make college more affordable.

Mr Martin said the Government will look at a range of supports, including fees, as part of the Budget.

He was responding to Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, who accused the Government of “ducking and diving” over the issue.

Ms McDonald told the Dail on Tuesday: “Can the Taoiseach be straight with students and their parents? Can he tell them when they get their bill for their college fees in September how much they will be asked to pay? Will it be 2,000 euro or 3,000 euro?

“That is the very simple question that has been asked since the Minister, Deputy James Lawless, went on radio and stated that without a cost-of-living package, college fees would be hiked up by 1,000 euro.

“That was nine days ago. While the Taoiseach has been away in Japan, we have had a parade of senior Government ministers in here, refusing to answer that very straightforward question.

“The Taoiseach and the Tanaiste have dodged answering it too. The Government is ducking and diving, oblivious that students are sitting down with their parents to make decisions about college now, today.

“A 1,000-euro hike in college fees is a lot of money for families.

“We must remember that it is 1,000 euro per student, so, if you have two or three in college, it is a big whack.

“We have been inundated with messages from stressed-out students and their parents.”

She said that families have budgeted and made decisions based on a “clear commitment” that college fees would not be increased.

Mr Martin said: “This time last year was exactly the same position because the previous year had not provided estimates for the reduction of 1,000 euro that happened last year.

“It was exactly the same position and actually Sinn Fein had a motion down this time last year as well doing the exact same thing.

“There is an estimates process and there will be a budget. We will look at the full range of supports, including fees.

“We will look at student supports and stronger supports for students with disabilities.

“We will look for stronger supports for children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and we will look at progression into third level from different areas, and into postgraduate and research.

“There is a significant menu, and lots of instruments with which we can help students, particularly those on middle and lower incomes to make college more affordable.

“It is across the full gamut of instruments we have or provisions we can make in the Budget.”