Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin (Wicklow-Wexford, Sinn Fein)

The Government plan to hike fees by 50% or €1,000 in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis represents a betrayal of the students up in the Gallery, whom I welcome, and their parents. I am sure they will not forget this. Tá géarchéim costais mhaireachtála uafásach againn in Éirinn faoi láthair. Tá daoine ag fulaingt agus faoi bhrú mór. The cost-of-living crisis is raging and, instead of helping the students and their parents, the Government is adding fuel to the fire. The hike proposed nine days ago sent real fear throughout households that fees will go up by €1,000 as there will be no cost-of-living package in the budget this year. Chuir sé seo isteach ar go leor mac léinn agus a gcuid tuismitheoirí. It was the last thing students and their parents needed or expected to hear because promises were made not only in the election campaign but in black and white in the programme for Government. Bhí mic léinn agus a gcuid tuismitheoirí i gContae Chill Mhantáin agus i gContae Loch Garman i dteagmháil liomsa agus bhí siad thar a bheith buartha faoi seo. Worried students and parents across Wexford and Wicklow have contacted me as they had made decisions based on the commitment the fees would not go up. That was the expectation.

As the Minister will know, County Wexford, my own county, has one of the lowest rates of third-level access. Mar sin, is buille uafásach trom é seo. It is a blow to the families that simply had not planned for this extra €1,000 per student. This will impact tens of thousands of students across the State. It will mean the difference between going to college or not. As we all know, tá Éire thar a bheith saibhir faoi láthair. We are awash with money. We have the financial resources and it makes economic sense to invest in our people. The Government needs to turn back on this and go in the opposite direction on fees. It should be reducing them as promised.

Speaking as a teacher of 34 years, I believe education is a right and should be free and available to everyone. We would do well to remember the famous words of Benjamin Franklin, "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance." I call on my fellow Deputies in Wexford-Wicklow, namely, Deputies Brian Brennan and Malcolm Byrne of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, respectively, to support Sinn Féin's motion this week. It is important for them to do so.

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