Students warn of consequences of grant cuts and college fee hikes

Government TDs will face the wrath of students if maintenance grants are cut and college fees increased in the budget, student leaders warned yesterday.

The warning came as more than 1,000 students of University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology marched on the constituency office of Fine Gael TD Jerry Buttimer amid claims that some can’t afford to buy food, pay for heat, or pay rent.

It was the first of a series of regional rallies organised by the Union of Students in Ireland that will take place before the Dec 5 budget.