*Donna McGettigan TD (SF).
CLARE TD, Donna McGettigan (SF) has described plans to increase students fees as “outrageous”.
A potential hike of student fees by €1000 has left the Government under fire with Clare TD, Donna McGettigan (SF) who is her party’s spokesperson on Further and Higher Education among those to slam the proposed move.
Speaking during a private members motion in the Dáil Deputy McGettigan told the Minister for Further and Higher Education, James Lawless TD (FF) to “have a look up there” at students in the Dáil gallery, before telling him “these are the people you’ve turned your back on”.
TDs from across the political divide have called for the Government to row back on their plans despite Minister Lawless insisting rival parties were guilty of “points scoring” and “hypocrisy”.
Minister Lawless said any changes are “a policy decision” and “not a move to re-allocate moneys”, saying “some parties want to make noise, I want to make progress”.
Third-level fees were reduced to €2,000 as a once-off cost-of-living measure three years ago and were rolled over for two further years. Speaking on RTÉ Radio One in the past fortnight, Minister Lawless said fees would have to increase again to €3,000 “as things stand”.
In a statement to The Clare Echo, Deputy McGettigan said, “As the cost-of-living continues to spiral out of control, government’s decision to hike up student fees by €1,000 is absolutely outrageous. This cruel move comes only weeks after the government weakened protections for student renters a decision that will drive student rents up even further.
“Time and time again, this government has shown that they are completely out of touch with the pressures ordinary students and families are facing. With the soaring costs of groceries, petrol and diesel, gas and electricity bills, the harsh reality is that many families simply will not be able to afford these additional costs. Parents are telling me that they are now facing the brutal decision of choosing which of their children can go to college. This is wrong, parents should not be put in this position.
“This latest assault on students is a far cry from Minister Lawless’s pledge that, ‘students should not be inadvertently disadvantaged’. It does not have to be this way. Sinn Féin has the backs of students and their families and will demand better for our young people. As a first step toward abolishing student fees, we are demanding a cost-of-living package in September that will reduce student fees by €1500. Our young people deserve a society that enables them to thrive, realise their full potential and build a future for themselves here,” she added.
