Students to hold mass protest over third-level fees

Over 20,000 students are expected to take to the streets of Dublin tomorrow to oppose the reintroduction of third-level fees and highlight the role they feel education should play in any economic recovery plan.

Students from third-level institutions across the country are expected to participate in the protest, which is being organised by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).

USI president Shane Kelly said the purpose of the protest is to signal a clear message to Minister for Education, Batt O’Keeffe, that students will not stand for the re-introduction of third level fees.

Last month, Mr O’Keeffe said there were no “soft choices” on higher education funding and reaffirmed his strong personal backing for the return of third-level fees for the better off.

Mr Kelly said such a move would see the average cost of completing a four-year undergraduate degree in Ireland rising to above €70,000, making higher education “an unaffordable luxury” for many people.

“Not only would the return of fees be a disaster for students and their families, but it would put at risk the idea of our knowledge based economy by placing a barrier in front of those wishing to further their education,” he said.

“The Minister must stop this attack on education and realise that investment in education and our entire infrastructure is the only way to ensure that when this recession ends, Ireland finds itself best placed to take advantage.”

Mr Kelly said those people who have recently lost their jobs should be given an opportunity to retrain and up skill, but that the reintroduction of fees would make this “practically impossible”.

The protest will commence at the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square at 1.30pm and end with a rally outside Government Buildings on Merrion Square. Opposition politicians, trade union members and student leaders will address the gathering.