‘Symbolic’ protest over fees increase

THOUSANDS of college students are under pressure to pay increased registration fees in the coming weeks while student leaders wait to discuss the issue with Education Minister Noel Dempsey.

That was the message from Union of Students in Ireland (USI) president Colm Jordan as members from around the country chained themselves to railings at the Department of Education, Government Buildings and Fianna Fáil headquarters in Dublin.

Their aim was to stay locked there for 274 minutes, one for each euro of the increase in what students called "back-door fees" announced last month by Minister Dempsey. However they were removed but not arrested by gardaí at Government Buildings and at the Department of Education.