Labour demands end to student fee chaos
Labour demands end to student fee chaos - The Labour Party
- Senator Harmon coordinates protest for students 6pm today at Leinster House
Labour’s further and higher education Spokesperson, who is a former president of USI, Senator Laura Harmon will lead a protest at 6pm tonight outside Leinster House, joined by student representatives and opposition parties, to demand clarity on potential student fee increases.
Students and their families can’t be treated as cash cows by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. There is a Government surplus of almost €1.8 billion in the National Training Fund, which can only be spent on education. That money must be used to keep fees low and widen access to education. Labour is calling for immediate clarity from Government on its plans.
Senator Harmon said:
“Students and families will not accept any increases to student fees. This Government has dodged straight answers on what the cost of college will be this September. That is not acceptable.
“Ireland is already one of the most expensive places in Europe to access further and higher education. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil laud the calibre and talent of our students – but now they risk locking thousands out of education entirely.
“An extra €1,000 per student may not seem like much to Government, but for working families already struggling with the cost of living, it’s simply a bridge too far. We cannot allow a situation where only the wealthy can afford to send their children to college.
“That’s why I’ve coordinated this protest. Alongside Sinn Féin, the Green Party, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn, student speakers and their families, we will send a clear and united message to this Government: students must not be priced out of their future.
“Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are sitting on a surplus of almost €1.8 billion in the National Training Fund. That money must be used to make education more affordable. I’m encouraging anyone who believes in fair access to education to come to Leinster House at 6pm this evening and stand with us.”