Galway students are to take to the streets this Thursday to protest at a possible reintroductino of third level fees by Minister for Education and Science Batt O’Keeffe.
In 1996 student fees were abolished. However recently Minister O’Keeffe hinted he could re-introdue fees and mandatory loans for students.
Muireann O’ Dwyer, Students’ Union President, this week demanded that the Goverment put an end the speculation.
She said, “Students in Galway have been forced onto the streets to make their voice heard. Students are not seeking a return to the heady days of student radicalism, but we feel we have been given little choice. The Minister has not consulted with students and only communicates his threats and ridiculous miscalculations through the media.”
“The Minister’s idea of introducing a loan system for students will only serve to kill off any potential economic growth in the West. Students graduating with huge debts will be extremely unlikely to enter the property market. At a time when one side of the government is trying to kick start the ailing economy, Minister O’ Keeffe is on the other side doing his best to kill it.”
The Galway march against fees takes place in Thursday October 2. Students will march from NUI Galway and GMIT and assemble in Eyre Square at 2pm.
