Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We have been discussing the considerable burden of the cost of accommodation on students and the very real impact that has on students' ability to access third level education. Students who are going into sixth year now are considering what they will do, going forward, and wondering if they will be able to access third level education. Another thing that needs to be talked about is the student contribution charge, which I call a fee. The free fees initiative was one of the great innovations in Irish public policy. That €3,000 charge is a fee by another name. I recognise that the Minister reduced that by €1,000 as a one-off measure in last year's budget. I recognise what he said in respect of those families who clearly do not realise that this reduction applies to them. I do not understand why we do not just reduce the charge. We should be looking to reduce the student contribution charge on an ongoing basis. Sinn Féin's alternative budget last year included getting rid of fees over a three-year period. I understand it is called the student contribution charge but these are fees by another name.

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