We will fight changes to fees system, warn protesting students

A SERIES of protests in Dublin by students from across the country yesterday warned the Government any change to the college fees system will not be taken lightly.

The Union of Students in Ireland has been seeking legal opinion on a number of points since Education Minister Noel Dempsey first announced his review of college fees last summer. As a Cabinet decision loomed closer this week, students occupied two Government departments and chained themselves to the railings of Leinster House.

“The Government is playing a political charade with students on this, and the Progressive Democrats have their own part in it,” said USI president Colm Jordan.

He said the smaller coalition party is voicing its concern about fees in preparation for an announcement of a loan system where graduates pay back their fees to the State when they begin earning certain levels of income.

“The PDs have to be seen to be the watchdog so they will be given credit if Noel Dempsey is ‘forced’ to step down from bringing back fees. None of the Government partners is stupid and they are just playing to the gallery,” Mr Jordan said.

USI believes it is unconstitutional to assess an adult student for fees or grants based on their family’s income, and have been working on a legal challenge to any reintroduction of tuition fees.

Among those who handcuffed themselves to pillars inside the Department of Social and Family Affairs yesterday morning were a number of mature students.

They were protesting at Minister Mary Coughlan’s decision to stop summer payments of the Back to Education Allowance which is designed to give people a second chance at getting into third level.

“This decision is going to have a deep personal and social impact on me and others. Returning to full-time education has not been easy but I want to complete my studies,” said Mike Power, a father-of-four studying science at UCD.