Removal of €1000 student contribution support a kick in the teeth for students and parents

Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan has slammed the decision by Government to reinstate the full undergraduate Student Contribution fee to €3000 following a decision taken last year to reduce the fee by €1000 to a maximum of €2000.

Deputy Nolan said the move has “blindsided and bewildered students and parents who were all operating under the good faith assumption that the €1000 reduction would remain untouched:

“If Government wanted to introduce policies to ensure that our students pack up and leave the country at a faster rate than they currently are, then this move and moves like it are highly effective,” said Deputy Nolan.

“We now know that a financial scorpion sting for students has been inserted within the forthcoming Budget. This is simply ridiculous and cruel at a time when families are already struggling to access grants and when they are assisting their children with the highest rents in virtually the entire EU.”

“This decision is going to blow up in the Governments face to a spectacular degree. It must be reversed immediately,” concluded Deputy Nolan.