Labour slams chaos over college fees
Labour slams chaos over college fees - The Labour Party
- Third level promises in tatters
Labour’s Further and Higher Education Spokesperson Senator Laura Harmon has slammed the ongoing chaos within Government over third level fees, as conflicting messages from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael expose a serious breakdown in policy coherence. Speaking on the plinth today, Senator Harmon called on Government to scrap any proposed hike in student fees.
Senator Harmon said:
“This week’s Government shambles has been extraordinary to watch. One Minister says fees are going up, another TD says they aren’t. If Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil can’t even get their story straight on college fees, how can people possibly trust them to navigate something as serious as a looming tariff war that could upend public finances?
“What’s most galling is that the Government is sitting on a surplus of almost €1.8 billion in the National Training Fund. This money can only be spent on education and training – and yet, rather than use it to ease the burden on students, they’re entertaining the idea of raising fees. It’s cynical and short-sighted.
“This Government’s credibility on third level education is now in tatters. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael promised to make college more affordable. Fees in Ireland are already among the highest in Europe. Any increase would be a blow to hard-pressed households.
“Next Tuesday outside the Dáil, I’ll be standing with students and campaigners to demand this Government backs down. The protest is being supported by the Union of Students in Ireland and other opposition parties.”