Students take to streets over fees proposal

STRONG student opposition to any college fees or loan system was highlighted in protests in Dublin and Limerick.

At a rally in University College Dublin (UCD), the country’s biggest third-level college, Union of Students in Ireland (USI) president Shane Kelly said proposals from university presidents for an Australian-type loan system is illogical and shortsighted.

The system, under which students begin paying back the State their tuition and cost-of-living costs once they start earning a certain income, has been strongly criticised. A discussion paper on third-level funding issued by Australia’s education minister in June described the system as “anomalous, inconsistent and irrational”.