Mayo Young Fine Gael calls on Minister to reverse hike in student fees

Young Fine Gael has expressed outrage, condemning as 'disgraceful' the decision by Fianna Fáil Minister for Further and Higher Education, James Lawless, to increase the student contribution charge by €1,000."

This reverts the fee back to the level it was before it was reduced as part of a cost of living package, implemented by Tánaiste and party leader Simon Harris when he was Minister in the department.

Former President of University of Galway Students' Union, and Young Fine Gael North West Regional Organiser, Dean Kenny, Belcarra said:

"As if spiralling rents, an increased cost of living, and already having the second highest university fees in Europe weren’t enough for students to be dealing with, Minister Lawless’ decision is an absolute slap in the face to those students and their families right across the country, that are struggling to put their sons and daughters through college amid all the other costs associated with third level education."

According to figures released by the CSO, over half of new entrants to honours degrees do not receive SUSI grant funding, meaning they will have to cough up an additional thousand euros in fees for the coming academic year.

Kenny added: "This is an absolutely shocking decision from Minister Lawless that will almost certainly prevent people from accessing 3rd level education.

In my own experience of working on the ground in the student movement, I know just how valuable that thousand euro reduction has been to students and their families.

It is no exaggeration to say that this increase will mean the difference between some students' having the money to buy groceries in a week, and having to go without."

According to figures released by the CSO, over half of new entrants to honours degrees do not receive SUSI grant funding, meaning they will have to cough up an additional thousand euros in fees for the coming academic year.

Young Fine Gael have consistently called for the student contribution charge to be completely abolished, and we would encourage Minister Lawless to read the Programme for Government, which commits to “continue to reduce the Student Contribution Charge over the lifetime of the Government”.

This move represents not only a clear reverse of progress in the sector, but it will almost certainly push more people out of third level education in this country, a terrible indictment for the new Minister.