People Before Profit councillor Conor Reddy has slammed the government’s plans to increase third-level student fees by €1,000 this year, calling instead for the abolition of all college fees and a radical overhaul of how higher education is funded in Ireland.
Reddy, a long-time student activist and co-founder of the Postgraduate Workers’ Organisation, described Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless’s remarks on the looming fee increase as “shocking”.
“Education is a public good and it should be free to all,” Reddy said. “So it is shocking to hear the Minister say that third-level student fees are to increase later this year.”
His comments come after Minister Lawless said that, “as things stand”, college students will have to pay €1,000 extra in fees from later this year. That would bring the standard student contribution to €3,000 – the highest in Europe.
Reddy strongly criticised the proposal, arguing that Ireland already underfunds its education system compared to other countries.
“Ireland invests less in education than any other OECD country – about 10% less per student than the OECD average – and funding at third level is just half the OECD average. That is why Ireland currently has the highest third level fees in the EU,” he said.
According to Reddy, People Before Profit have shown in their alternative budgets how free education could be fully funded without burdening students. He pointed to the country’s fiscal surplus and the potential of higher taxes on corporate profits and multimillionaires as ways to bridge the €307 million shortfall in higher education funding.
“This should not be done by raising fees to €3,000. That is completely unjustifiable when we have the resources available,” he added.
Reddy is also calling for broader structural reforms in higher education, including better pay and job security for PhD researchers and teaching staff.
“We need to expand permanent staffing and pay PhDs properly, with full recognition as employees, to get education working for everyone. This would give all those teaching in our Higher Education Institutions security and a living wage, while improving standards for students.”
The councillor also stressed the urgent need for expansion of course offerings, particularly in areas facing skills shortages like medicine, therapies, architecture and planning.
“There is huge additional need for courses to meet the needs of our growing population. We need to invest in the future, not pile more debt on young people.”
On the wider cost of student life, Reddy highlighted how financial barriers extend beyond tuition.
“A student living at home will have costs of over €6,000 per year. If renting, it will be over €16,000. To make free education a meaningful reality, we also need quality, affordable state-delivered student accommodation, higher maintenance grants, and lower thresholds to access those grants.”
The People Before Profit councillor’s comments add pressure on the government as debates around the cost and accessibility of higher education continue to grow, particularly amid rising living costs and record budget surpluses.
Reddy’s call echoes a long-running campaign by student groups and education advocates demanding that Ireland follow other European countries in fully funding higher education and removing financial barriers for students.
