Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of Palestinian third level students who are going to be here as a consequence of the genocide that their families are experiencing in Gaza. Perhaps they are able to flee, have already fled or are going to be fleeing here over the next period. I was in touch with the Taoiseach and his office previously when he was Minister for higher education regarding a particular case that is still ongoing and is illustrative of the issue. Amir is a 19-year-old Gaza man who is studying at TU Dublin. He arrived as a regular international student and regular international student fees were paid. Then, in October, his family home and family business in Gaza were destroyed and he had to apply for international protection. However, TU Dublin is continuing to pursue him for the fees it says he owes based on assessing him as an international student, so he is facing thousands of euro in fees. It previously said his exam results would be withheld, although it has since progressed that and has released the exam results and said he can put a payment plan in place for paying these fees. He has no mechanism to pay the fees. TU Dublin has said that the Government has not provided any scheme or funding for students from Palestine but that if a scheme is put in place, as was put in place for Ukrainian students, it would be able to implement it. It is one way or the other. TU Dublin is saying it needs the money to be able to do this. Either TU Dublin or the Department needs to step in here.

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