Rise in student registration fee is 'short-sighted'

Macra na Feirme, the national rural youth organisation, has slammed Minister Brendan Howlin's announcement of the €250 to be added to the student registration fee.

Macra National President, Alan Jagoe, said: "The increase in the registration fee will put students under even more pressure in a time where families are already struggling to send children to college.

"This is a short-sighted move by the Government, we need to ensure we have a skilled workforce in order to contribute to the economic recovery. Unfortunately, the Government is not supporting our young people to ensure they can make a contribution.

"We are the European base for many successful multi-national companies and if we cannot provide the skilled and educated workforce they require, we are nothing more than a B&B for them.

"The cuts in maintenance grants to postgraduate students is another blow to those determined to develop their skills base and contribute to the economic recovery."