Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)

The original reduction of student fees was introduced in 2022. The reason the Government did that was to alleviate the cost of living, which was the right thing to do. To go on that premise and bring it to its logical conclusion, the cost of living today has now increased by at least another third since then. According to Barnardos, one third of parents have gone into arrears on energy bills alone. We see reports in the media that the Government is intent on scrapping the cost-of-living supports in the upcoming budget. Now, we have a Minister saying that student fees could reach €3,000, an increase of €1,000. We then have the housing Minister effectively giving landlords the go-ahead to raise student rents once they sign a new release, which the majority do, because a new batch of students are coming into first year, others are graduating and leaving their accommodation and others are moving to different colleges. To up student fees by €1,000 in 2025, in what is effectively an even bigger cost-of-living crisis, is unjustifiable. One of the many students who has written to me stated:

With no cost-of-living package in sight for the next budget despite our spending power not matching the cost of living at all, with increased rents as the current Government continues to cosy up to landlords and private developers, finally what now feels like a slap in the face with the prospect of an increased student fee.

These students will be the future foundation of our nation. They should be looked after. A cost-of-living package should be introduced, and the scheduled €1,000 fee hike must be scrapped, with a further reduction of €500, reducing the maximum fee to €1,500. That is what Sinn Féin will do. That is what should be done.

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