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”.

UCD students union president Aodhán Ó Deá said any kind of fees or loans system was not justified as higher education should be a right, rather than a privilege. However, he backed the presidents’ argument for improved State funding for third level, as students face the impact of cuts during the coming academic year.

University of Limerick students union president Pa O’Neill said asking those who could afford to pay for third-level education would be the start of a slippery slope as the numbers being asked by government to pay would be increased every year. He led hundreds of students from UL, Limerick Institute of Technology, Mary Immaculate College and Limerick School of Art and Design through the city yesterday in protest at any introduction of fees.

SIPTU economist Marie Sherlock said the university heads’ proposals side-stepped the fundamental question of how to fund, incentivise and support students at all levels of the education system.

“Those who point to the failure of free fees to improve participation rates more rapidly forget there was a similar delayed action after the introduction of free secondary schooling in 1966,” she said.