One thousand paper aeroplanes were launched into the air in Galway this week to symbolise the thousands of school leavers and students who have been forced to emigrate.
The action was taken by the NUI Galway Students’ Union as part of their protest at the opening of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party’s Think-In at the Radisson on Tuesday.
Students were highlighting three particular issues they believe the Government are responsible for, despite assurances to the contrary before the General Election: Cuts of up to 60 per cent this year alone in the Student Maintenance Grant; the elimination of payment for student nurses when working full shifts in hospitals; and the policy change that sees the denial of maintenance grants for mature students.
“The short sighted cuts in education by this Fine Gael-led Government are affecting the economic performance and recovery of this country,” said NUIG SU president Emmet Connolly. “Students aren’t looking for any kind of favourable treatment – they simply can’t survive the latest wave of cuts which will lead to many being forced to emigrate or join the dole queues.”
