Six Galway students have been arrested after organising a lock-in at Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s constituency office in Castlebar.
The students, three from NUI Galway and three from Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, entered the office at 1pm and locked themselves inside. They were arrested and taken out of the building shortly after 2pm.
The students, five of whom are student representatives, are currently being detained at Castlebar Garda station.
There was a large Garda presence outside the office despite the low number of protesters, according the Union of Students in Ireland deputy president Kate Acheson, adding that the protest was organised to show politicians how much their actions are affecting students.
"Minister [for Education, Ruairí] Quinn has stated that close to 80 per cent of the Department of Education's Budget is spent on pay, pensions and entitlements. Under the Croke Park agreement, this remains untouchable. Therefore, while the pay of top-paid academics and college staff is protected, vulnerable students and families have been targeted for savings and revenue raising measures. This is unacceptable," she said.
When contacted, the Taoiseach's Dublin-based Press Office said they did not know of the incident.
