Third level students set to be betrayed in Budget says Cummins

Social Democrats TD and education spokesperson Jen Cummins has predicted that third-level students will be “betrayed” in tomorrow’s Budget with promised cuts to college fees being more modest than what was promised in last November’s general election campaign.

A cut of just €500 in college fees is expected to be announced tomorrow afternoon. a change from the €1,000 reduction in fees in recent years.

Cummins said that students had a “realistic” expectation that the cuts would be continued in this year’s Budget as part of the Programme for Government commitment to phase out the student contribution fee over the lifetime of this Dáil.

However, comments made during the summer by Minister James Lawless dented students’ hopes that a similar reduction would be forthcoming this year.

“Presenting a €500 cut as a permanent measure will be of little comfort to students who need help now. Even if this level of reduction was applied annually over this government’s term, it would not be enough to abolish fees outright,” the Dublin South Central TD said.

“In our alternative budget, the Social Democrats called for the €1,000 reduction to be maintained for the current academic year as part of a permanent phasing out of fees over the next four years.

“This is the level of certainty that students need as they struggle to progress through their academic lives in the middle of a cost of living and rental crises.

Cummins said, “Ireland continues to be an outlier when it comes to the cost of college fees, with the government completely out of touch with how expensive life is for students.”

“Students will no doubt be out protesting after tomorrow’s Budget announcement – and they will have my full support in doing so.”