6 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Call for urgent clarity on €1,000 college fee increase ahead of Leinster House protest
Responding to the Government's decision to discontinue a €1,000 reduction in third-level fees, Kathryn Walsh, NYCI director for policy and advocacy, said: 'Students continue to face serious financial pressure, with the cost of education remaining a persistent burden on young people and their families.
"The lack of a clear decision on whether the €1,000 reduction in third-level fees will be retained in Budget 2026 is compounding anxiety for thousands of young people already struggling to make ends meet.'
Third-level fees were reduced to €2,000 from €3,000 through cost-of-living measures for last two academic years, but the Government has ruled this out for 2025/2026.
On Tuesday, the Labour Party, Sinn Fein, the Green Party, Social Democrats, People Before Profit and Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn will lead a protest at Leinster House to demand certainty in relation to the issue.
The NYCI is calling for Budget 2026 to include a package of dedicated measures to address the financial pressures young people face.
These include a commitment to permanently reduce third-level fees to €1,000 a year and provide immediate clarity on the situation. Additionally, the council is calling for the equalisation of the rate of Jobseeker's allowance for those under 25 and the scrapping of allowed minimum rates of pay that are below the national minimum wage.
'Continued failure to support young people through fair income policies" is worsening the blow caused by the increase in third-level fees,' Ms Walsh said.
'Young workers remain on sub-minimum wage rates, despite a clear recommendation from the Low Pay Commission to abolish them.
"Meanwhile, those on Jobseeker's Allowance under the age of 25 continue to receive a reduced rate, well below what is needed for a minimum standard of living.
'It's time for a budget that moves young people from surviving to thriving. Anything less is a failure of leadership,' she added.
This weekend, Further and Higher Education Minister James Lawless said he would push for budget measures to reduce the €3,000 annual fees for college students by several hundred euro permanently.
However, this has not been agreed by the government parties, with the Fianna Fáil minister committing only to 'seeking the very best possible outcome for students and their families' during budget negotiations.
