Ninth Level Ireland

“Further and Higher Education Minister Simon Harris has ruled out a rise in the €3,000 student charge as part of the upcoming third-level funding reform package. Mr Harris has already dismissed the idea of loans as a way of raising the charge by deferring the financial pain through a ‘study-now, pay later’ approach …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 14 October]

“Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address student poverty particularly poverty arising from extortionate costs of accommodation and the burden of fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil debates, 13 October]

“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is to call for the student contribution charge to be reduced by €1,000 in its submission to the government ahead of Budget 2022 …” (more)

[Mairead Maguire, University Times, 5 October]

“Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) has said that the government’s approach to college fees is not working, criticising the Irish University Association’s (IUA) opposition to fee abolition. In an interview with The University Times, IUA Director General Jim Miley said that ‘we have to recognise that there are individuals and families in the country who can afford to make the student contribution’ …” (more)

[Mairead Maguire, University Times, 10 September]

“Irish universities are unlikely to advocate for the abolition of the student contribution charge, after the head of the sector’s lobby group signalled his opposition to the principle of free third-level education …” (more)

[Jennifer Ní Chiara, University Times, 7 September]

“A piece in the SBP at the weekend by John Walsh caught my eye. In it he demanded the reintroduction of fees. He suggests: ‘There is one policy area, however, that the government would be more than happy to keep in cold storage. Yet its implications are far reaching …'” (more)

[The Cedar Lounge Revolution, 7 September]

“The breakdown of the cost of college will surprise few in third level. But at this time of year, when the cost of going back to school is all over the media, students deserve a look in, writes the Editorial Board. Going to college is now simply accepted as being expensive in Ireland. It shouldn’t be …” (more)

[University Times, 22 August]

“Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the proactive steps his Department is taking to address university fees, which are the highest in the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil debates, 8 July]

“Cian O’Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Irish students are being charged additional fees for the Scottish graduate-entry medicine programme based in the University of St Andrews and the University of Dundee which contradicts the memorandum of understanding on the common travel area; the steps he will take to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 17 June]

“Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he plans to review the current level of fees for third-level courses …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 16 June]

“University College Dublin (UCD) recently published the pricing for all on-campus student accommodation for the next academic year. Fees for September 2021 to May 2022 range from €8,059.33 to €14,465, depending on the residence. During the 2020/21 academic year, the cheapest on-campus residences, Belgrove and Merville, were priced at €6,696.95 from September 17 to May 17 for continuing undergraduate students. Also last year, the most expensive residence, Roebuck Castle, cost continuing undergraduate students €10,612.27, which included catering …” (more)

[Bella Salerno, Trinity News, 11 June]

“NUI Galway Students’ Union has joined students across the country in calling for an end to the extortionate €3,000 Student Contribution Fee. The fee means students in the Republic of Ireland pay the highest undergraduate fees in the European Union …” (more)

[Michael Malone, Galway Daily, 3 June]

“Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any refunds or waiver of fees available to third-level students given they have been at home studying remotely for most of the year …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 2 June]

“Covid-19 has led to Trinity College Dublin reporting a deficit of €25.6 million for the 2019/20 financial year despite an increase in income from State grants and academic fees. The shortfall marks a major reversal in the university’s financial position …” (more)

[Seán McCárthaigh, Irish Times, 2 June]

“A restricted and socially distanced demonstration calling for the abolition of student fees was held by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) outside the Kildare Street gates of Leinster House today at 11am. Students were not asked to attend the demonstration in-person as a result of the current public health restrictions …” (more)

[Bella Salerno, Trinity News, 31 May]

“Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that postgraduate business students at the University of Limerick will not receive a refund for the cost of the international study module which was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, including flights and accommodation covered by the fees of their course; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 26 May]

“Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the contribution currently made by the Higher Education Authority towards graduate entry medicine per student; the cost of increasing the HEA contribution towards graduate entry medicine tuition fees by €5,000 and €10,000 per student, respectively based on the latest available student numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 6 May]

“Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the data provided on foot of a recent freedom of information request (details supplied); the analysis his Department has carried out across third-level institutions which fall under the responsibility of his Department into the fining of students for the late payment of registration fees; if this issue will be examined as part of the ongoing review of Higher Education Authority legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dail written answers, 1 April]

“The future of fees for international students is likely to be determined by which of the three candidates in the race to be Trinity’s next provost is successful in the April election. Professors Linda Doyle, Linda Hogan and Jane Ohlmeyer took different standpoints on whether fees for non-EU students would increase under their provostship at a hustings this evening hosted by Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) …” (more)

[Lauren Boland, Audrey Brown and Shannon Connolly, Trinity News, 29 March]

“Tonight, the government voted against the People Before Profit (PBP) Young People and Access to Further and Higher Education motion in the Dáil. All opposition TDs bar 8 members of the Regional Group of independents voted in favour of the bill …” (more)

[Kate Henshaw, Trinity News, 25 March]