Young Fine Gael calls for the Minister for Further & Higher Education, James Lawless to reverse his decision to hike the Student Contribution Fee.
Young Fine Gael are shocked by the disgraceful decision of Minister for Further & Higher Education James Lawless to raise the student contribution charge by €1,000.
This reverts the fee back to the level it was before it was reduced as part of a cost of living package, implemented by Tánaiste and party leader Simon Harris when he was Minister in Department.
YFG President Jamie Malone said “Minister Lawless’s decision to hike fees on students is a regressive move that will limit young people’s access to further and higher education”
As if spiralling rents, an increased cost of living, and already having the second highest university fees in Europe weren’t enough for students to be dealing with, Minister Lawless’s comments that we must ‘play the hands we’re dealt’ is a slap in the face to those students and their families right across the country, that are struggling to get through college amidst the other costs associated with third level education.”
“I have written to the Minister showing him the hand that young people are being dealt, and have asked that he respond whether he feels that young people have been dealt a fair hand.”
According to figures released by the CSO, over half of new entrants to honours degrees do not receive SUSI grant funding, meaning they will have to cough up an additional thousand euros in fees for the coming academic year.
Young Fine Gael have consistently called for the student contribution charge to be completely abolished, and we would encourage Minister Lawless to read the Programme for Government, which commits to “reduce the Student Contribution Charge over the lifetime of the Government”.
This move represents not only a clear reversal of progress in this area, but it will almost certainly push more people out of higher education in this country, a terrible indictment for the new Minister.
ENDS