Students demand 'free fees' pledge

Student leaders will call on every political party today to pledge to uphold free fees if elected to Government.

Demonstrations will be held in Dublin city centre as the Union of Students of Ireland (USI) steps up its campaign.

The USI warned students cannot reach the top unless fees are protected and student grants are increased.

President Colm Hamrogue said hierarchy in education must be resisted.

“It is vital that Ireland does not retreat from Free Fees after the next election, so students are calling on all the parties to pledge to uphold them,” he said.

“Every party must include a commitment to Free Fees in its election manifesto.

“Higher education should not be reserved only for the rich. Yet many students already face exclusion from Irish colleges because they don’t receive enough financial support from the Government.

“Student grants are too low and cover less than half the cost of living for students, but if the next government abandoned free fees, inequality would increase.”

Mr Hamrogue said fees were the bedrock on which fairness rests.