COLLEGE COSTS - Parents struggle with rising charges

Most parents will struggle to pay the rising costs of their children’s third-level education, research shows.

The Irish League of Credit Unions has published a report today which shows that eight in 10 students will need financial support from their family to get through their third-level courses, seeking on average €428 a month during term time.

The report found 64% of parents will struggle to find this money and more than half of all students will have to take on part-time jobs to get through their studies.