College fees hike plan ‘a suckerpunch’ to students says Kilkenny TD

Carlow Kilkenny Sinn Féin TD, Natasha Newsome Drennan, has called the government plan to hike college fees by €1,000 in a cost of living crisis a ‘betrayal’ students and parents won’t forget.

She was speaking ahead of Sinn Féin’s Dáil motion, this week, to cut fees as part of a plan to completely abolish them.

“There is a cost-of-living crisis raging and instead of helping students and parents the government is adding fuel to the fire,” Deputy Newsome Drennan said.

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“Minister for Higher Education, James Lawless, sent real fear through households last Sunday when he said fees would go up by €1,000 because there was no cost-of-living package in this year’s budget.

“This was the last thing students and their parents needed or expected to hear.

“Promises had been made, not only in the election campaign, but in black and white in the programme for government.

“Students and parents have made decisions based on the commitment that fees would not go up.

“This is a suckerpunch to families that have simply not planned or budgeted for an extra €1,000 for every student.

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“This will impact over 90,000 students across the state, and for many will mean the difference between going to college or not. We have the financial resources, and it makes economic sense to invest in your people.
“Education is a right and should be free and available to everyone.”