“Students in Cork want their money back after paying up front for accommodation this semester. Earlier this week, the government’s ordered colleges to start the new semester with online classes only for the next two weeks …” (more)
[BreakingNews.ie, 27 September]
“The task of bringing students back safely to third-level campuses brings unique challenges. The sheer scale of campuses, the number of students relocating, the commuting distances, and issues of accommodation – to name just a few factors necessary to consider – mean it is an undertaking like no other. What unfortunately is not unique to this sector is the fact that a legacy of underfunding by successive governments has left it ill-prepared to deal with the coronavirus outbreak …” (more)
[Rose Conway-Walsh, University Times, 24 September]
“Students who have paid for English languages classes but must return to online learning in light of the latest restrictions should be entitled to a partial refund on their fees, the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) has said …” (more)
[Sorcha Pollak, Irish Times, 23 September]
“NUI Galway Students’ Union has joined USI and NUS-USI in the launch of the Education for All campaign which is calling for immediate action on Higher Education funding. The organisation that represents 374,000 students across the island of Ireland has written an open letter to Minister Simon Harris asking him to take action on a number of key areas …” (more)
[Michael Malone, Galway Daily, 21 September]
“Students across the island of Ireland have today kicked-off a series of actions aimed at urging their TDs to sign a pledge committing to six actions as part of the Union of Students in Ireland’s new Education for All campaign. The USI, which represents 374,000 students in Ireland, has written to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris calling on him to take action on the key issues that prevent many from accessing third level education …” (more)
[USI, 21 September]
“An asylum seeker who received top grades in his A-levels has said he cannot take up his place at Queen’s University because he is not eligible for a student loan or grant …” (more)
[Belfast Telegraph, 18 September]
“There has been a creeping sense among students over the past number of years that the higher education sector in Ireland is moving its focus from education to profit. From the wave of rent increases across campuses earlier this year to the repeated fee increases and exploitation of international students, the emerging trend is that third-level institutions are now seen as businesses, with students as their customers …” (more)
[Cian Kelly-Lyth, Irish Times, 18 September]
“Sinn Féin spokesperson for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Rose Conway-Walsh TD has called on the government to take immediate action to support students to make it to third-level by cutting fees and increasing SUSI supports …” (more)
[Sinn Féin, 14 September]
“Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to abolish third level registration fees in view of the fact that many students will not be attending lectures as normal, will have extra IT costs due to online learning and will find it more difficult to find work; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil debates, 9 September]
“Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will elaborate on his recent statement that student contribution fees are too high; and the timeline for the reduction of these fees …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 9 September]
“Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost in 2020 if the student contribution charge was reduced by €100, €200, €500, €1000 and €3000, respectively …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 8 September]
“Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of each student enrolled as an undergraduate full-time, part-time, remote and FETAC; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 8 September]
“Last week it was confirmed that third-level institutions will be permitted to charge students full registration fees for the coming year despite widespread restrictions on on-campus learning and facilities. The decision by University College Dublin (UCD) to charge students €3,000 or more for ‘blended learning’ has provoked criticism from UCD Student’s Union (UCDSU) President and Welfare Officer …” (more)
[Gemma Farrell, College Tribune, 10 September]
“Student unions across Ireland have expressed their outrage as universities and colleges intend to keep registration fees high despite the impact of COVID-19 on third level education …” (more)
[Ali Condon, Extra.ie, 6 September]
“Third-level students are one of the many groups within society who have been forced to make compromises in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Yes, our social lives have been significantly curtailed. But even more costly than that has been the loss of months of in-person teaching – with no clear path to its return …” (more)
[Eimear Finan, University Times, 1 September]
“This is a tricky one because it goes to the heart of what third level education is actually for. If you look across the Atlantic, the huge rise in college fees over the last decade has largely been due to efforts by institutions to improve the student ‘experience’. This trend is essentially a marketing ploy and in many ways it has little to do with education …” (more)
[Tales from Academia, 1 September]
“Student registration fees are ‘too high’ and will be looked at over the lifetime of the Government, Higher Education Minister Simon Harris said. As students prepare for the college year, he insisted the Susi grant system will be flexible to ‘take on board if a family’s income has changed due to Covid-19’ …” (more)
[Catherine Devine, Independent, 1 September]
“Third level students in Cork are preparing for a return to college amid concerns over fees and accommodation costs. With some third level institutes opting largely for supporting students to learn from home, calls have been made for student contribution fees to be reduced …” (more)
[Darragh Bermingham, EchoLive, 31 August]
“The president of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has criticised the government for giving colleges the freedom to charge students with registration fees of up to €3,000. Minister for Education Norma Foley came under fire yesterday for saying that colleges would be allowed to charge full fees for this year if they wished to, regardless of how much time students spend on campus …” (more)
[Cormac Watson, University Times, 31 August]
“The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has said he is committed to working to reduce third level fees. Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, Simon Harris said the registration fee for students is ‘too high’ and he would like to see fees addressed during his tenure as minister …” (more)
[RTÉ News, 31 August]
