Fees move will cause inequality, says USI
If fees were brought back high-cost courses such as medicine and dentistry would be cordoned off exclusively for the children of the rich, said Union of Students in Ireland (USI) officer Brendan Ferron.
“Fees would not only affect students, but would have an irreversible effect on the Irish social structure. This would create a two-tier society of those who can afford the right of education and those who cannot,” he said.
Education Minister Noel Dempsey may reintroduce fees for the well-off as part of a review of the Government’s €350 million annual spend on student supports.
Figures released by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) show the possible damaging effect of fees, according to the USI.
The HEA showed the varying annual costs to the State of each student on various courses in Irish universities. They ranged from around €5,000 for business and arts degrees to €22,000 a year for dentistry.
Yesterday’s student protest outside Government Buildings took place just hours before Charlie McCreevy delivered his budget speech.
Students say they are also concerned about cutbacks in education, which are jeopardising thousands of young people’s academic futures.
“Their families have been crippled by the 69% increase in the college registration fee and constant allusions to the re-introduction of tuition fees,” said USI president Colm Jordan. “Many students cannot afford to attend college at the moment, even with free fees.”
“The Government fails to recognise that more people completing third-level education means more income in the form of taxes for the State.”
Mr Jordan said legal proceedings were still being considered to challenge the €274 registration fee increase announced by Mr Depmsey last August.
He also promised further demonstrations and lobbying in the USI’s campaign on behalf of students.
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