No fees paid for Republic students in the North

Up to 5,000 students from the Republic, enrolled in third level colleges in the North will be denied payment of course fees paid next term.

The decision follows policy changes by the North’s Department for Employment and Learning.

The change, which comes on top of a €13 million budget cut for the North’s Further Education Colleges, means that only students from the Six Counties will have their course fees paid, leaving southern students facing bills of up to €2,000 for an FE course.

The rule change will particularly affect students from the border counties who attend colleges in Fermanagh, Derry and Newry, Co Down.

“This is not promoting equality in education and will cause huge disruption for students wanting to attend Further Education Colleges,” said Colm Hamrogue, President of the Union of Students in Ireland.

“The department should repeal this decision. It is taking choice away from people and it is also targeting areas which are among the least well-off in the country.

“It is unacceptable that further financial burden should be put on students, particularly as those most affected by this policy are from counties which are among the least well-off in the country,” he said.

A spokesman for the Department for Employment and Learning said discussions are underway with the Department of Education and Science in Dublin to reach a solution.

“Under current legislation, the Department for Employment and Learning applies residency requirements to the funding of students of Further Education colleges,” said a spokesman.

The Department of Education and Science confirmed the matter was under consideration.

Southern students will be eligible to have their course fees paid if they get an address in, or move to, the North.