One student leader who didn't attend the protest, despite his concern at the increasing financial problems of students, was UCD student welfare officer John Moynes.

At its first meeting of the academic year, the UCD Hardship Fund dealt with more applications than it did in the 18 months previous to that.

Moynes feels students are getting into financial trouble because they underestimate how much it will cost them to support themselves through college. "The abolition of third-level fees has produced a cultural misunderstanding that university education is free, which it's still far from being. "Many students are having to earn £80 to £100 a week on top of their grant to get themselves through college, which means they're working up to 30 hours as well as studying full time.

"My experience of student poverty is why I didn't get involved in the march. It's little more than a self-congratulatory PR stunt. USI march at this time every year and it hasn't achieved anything. They aren't putting forward sensible solutions. There's a strong case for increasing the grant, but not for doubling it - that's just pie in the sky. "We should be more realistic and look for a grant increase of around 10 per cent, put in a serious proposal for a student housing association and seek subsidies for expenses such as books. At the moment the financial assistance is so inadequate that a large number of students are having to look very seriously at whether a university degree is an option for them at all."