Dáil debates

Thursday, 2 June 2022

Higher Education Investment and Costs: Statements

 

2:05 pm

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This year the Minister published a report that declared he would be cutting the cost of student contributions. This was a huge relief to college students and also gave hope to younger students who had ruled out college because of the cost involved. People eagerly await details on the amount by which it will be cut and when this will happen, but we are still waiting.

On a future date, by an unspecified amount, college contributions will be cut. This is no good to students today. This is no good to students who have to consider paying for rent, transport or petrol, and all the costs involved in being a student. Students and parents need to be able to plan. We have a serious problem in the State with third level education. We are producing some of the finest minds, most innovative graduates in the world, who go on to be leaders on the international stage and yet our colleges and universities are chronically underfunded. The cost of attending third level education is a huge barrier.

When costs go up, diversity comes down. We lose out in terms of the potential of young people, particularly those who fall in the middle between those who qualify for a SUSI grant and those who can actually afford to pay. These people earn too much to get supports from the State, but not enough to afford to send their children to college. People who are trapped in the middle are being hit from every side. I am talking about the families of working parents who are struggling. They are earning too much to get supports to put their children through college but not enough to pay the bills.

Instead of vague promises about funding in the future, Sinn Féin would cut student fees every year - this year, next year and the year after. We would reform the SUSI grant and expand its limits. It is said that third level education is not for everyone, but everyone should have the opportunity to attend third level education. They should not be blocked by a lack of finances or because costs are too high. That is what I am asking the Minister to do. We need to change that. We need to work on breaking down barriers and increasing diversity because smart teams do amazing things, but truly diverse teams can do impossible things.

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