Cork councillors join call to scrap €1,000 student fee increase

Cork city councillors have expressed concern about the Government’s plan to increase student fees by €1,000 next academic year.

The move would see the student contribution rise to €3,000 in the autumn.

The issue was raised in Cork City Council following protests in Dublin earlier this month against increases. A motion to write to the Minister for Education to express concern at plans to increase student fees was brought by Sinn Féin Cllr Joe Lynch. He said: “This hike in student fees will impact over 90,000 students across the State – including thousands who attend UCC and MTU – and for many this will mean the difference between accessing third-level education or not.”

He added: “Education is a right and improving access, not putting up barriers, must be a public policy objective. The Government's refusal to say whether student fees will be €2,000 or €3,000 in September is a slap in the face to students and families who cannot plan or budget for the year ahead.”

However, Fianna Fáil councillors offered a different view, highlighting the overall progress in education access.

Cllr John Sheehan noted: “There is an 80% increase in people attending third-level education.” Cllr Seán Martin added: “Families earning up to €64,000 pay no contributions. This means one in three students pay none. Half of all higher education students receive SUSI support. For the first time ever, SUSI is available for part-time and hybrid courses.”

Fianna Fáil Cllr Mary Rose Desmond concluded: “There is none of us that would say we don’t want the letter to go to the Minister for Further and Higher Education. Can I also propose an amendment that this letter should also go to the Minister of Finance Paschal Donohoe as well.”

Labour Cllr Ciara O’Connor argued the current system still leaves many behind. “There are plenty of students who fall outside of brackets of SUSI grant. There is an increased pressure on students and their families with the housing crisis. This includes students’ accommodation.”

The proposal was agreed by Cork City Council.

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.