If fees are reintroduced, many students will not be able to afford them and the Government will force more and more young people on to the dole queues.
This is the view of NUI, Galway Students’ Union president Muireann O’Dwyer who was one of hundreds of NUIG students who travelled to Dublin yesterday to join in the No to Fees March against the possible reintroduction of third level fees.
The reintroduction of fees was first mooted by Minister Batt O’ Keeffe last summer, a move which stirred fear in students and their parents awaiting Leaving Cert results.
Students are concerned that if the fees are reintroduced, students will face the prospect of paying €7,000 for each year they study. In addition to other costs such as rent, food, books, and clothes, many students will be forced to quit their studies.
“The Minister has been hanging the threat of fees over everybody’s head for months now,” said Students’ Union president Muireann O’Dwyer. “Despite the worsening financial crisis and the huge increases in unemployment, the Minister is still stalling on removing this threat to education.”
Ms O’Dwyer said that instead of “threatening cuts” students want to see the Government investing in education.
