Students brand move to restore third-level fees as a 'cynical and calculated betrayal'

Higher education minister James Lawless indicated that student fees will go back up after being cut by €1,000 under cost-of-living measures over the past three years

Higher education minister James Lawless has confirmed that students and families now face an extra €1,000 in education costs from next term as third-level fees will be restored to €3,000. File photo: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

Students have hit out at the Government's "cynical and calculated betrayal" as a coalition row escalates around a Budget decision on third-level fees.

Higher education minister James Lawless has confirmed that students and families now face an extra €1,000 in education costs from next term as third-level fees will be restored to €3,000.

Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ), formerly the Union of Students in Ireland, condemned the move, saying it once again places Ireland among the most expensive countries in Europe for higher education.

Mr Lawless indicated that the fees will go back up, after being cut by €1,000 under cost-of-living measures over the past three years. He told RTÉ radio's This Week programme that once-off measures will not form part of this year's Budget, meaning fees would be restored.

"All of us in any walk of life have to play the hands we're dealt. If I don't have a cost-of-living package, I can't do those kind of measures that were done last year," Mr Lawless said.

However, at a private meeting of Fine Gael TDs and senators party reported on by the Irish Examiner last week, Tánaiste Simon Harris indicated that he will be strongly pushing for a cut to third-level fees contained in the Budget.

Fine Gael TD Maeve O'Connell echoed this view, stating the Government must continue to reduce the student contribution fee during its lifetime to ease the financial burden.

"Reducing the cost of education and helping hard-pressed families is important to Fine Gael and our party leader Tánaiste Simon Harris. Now is not the time to row back on commitments made by the party during the last election and by this Government," she said.

'Slap in the face'

Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins said Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael need to "get their act together" and keep their commitments to students and families to reduce third-level fees.

"This speculation, about whether fees are going up, must now be brought to an end," she said.

Sinn Féin's Pa Daly described the move as a "scandalous slap in the face" for students and their families in the midst of an escalating cost-of-living crisis.

He added that the hike represented the latest example of a government that has abandoned young people, and remains completely out of touch when it comes to understanding the financial pressures ordinary workers and families are under right across the state.

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Labour senator Laura Harmon accused the Government of rolling back the clock when it comes to making college affordable as reversing the student fee reduction "sends a clear signal" that access to third-level education is not a priority.

AMLÉ president Bryan O’Mahony said students are now facing "increased financial burdens with no consultation and no warning" despite a programme for Government pledge to continue reduce the levy.

“After years of chronic underinvestment, students continue to pay the price,” Mr O’Mahony added.

“Was the fee reduction merely a short-term election stunt? Are we expected to endure the same cycle of pre-election sweeteners followed by post-election reversals?”