Ninth Level Ireland

“With September looming, the annual news cycle has invariably turned to the perennial problem of student accommodation, or, more correctly, the lack of it. What is increasingly clear is that, with their eye-watering rents, the newly built purpose built student accommodation blocks found on most college campuses have done little to alleviate the issue. In fact, far from providing a solution to the accommodation problem, they are starting to look more like corporate investment vehicles …” (more)

[Donal Horgan, The Burkean, 24 August]

“Families who cannot afford to send their children to university should consider more affordable options in regional colleges, Minister for Education Joe McHugh has said. He was speaking after more than 58,000 students received their Leaving Cert results on Tuesday morning …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 14 August]

“The education minister has denied he is electioneering over promises to freeze student fees. Joe McHugh has previously promised there will be no increase to the €3,000 student registration fee, and he says he does not see any price hike if Fine Gael remain in government – a statement that has been criticised as ‘electioneering’ as the nation prepares for an upcoming general election in 2019 or 2020 …” (more)

[Aoife Moore, Belfast Telegraph, 13 August]

“Education Minister Joe McHugh’s political promise to freeze college fees for five years was made without any input from the Department of Finance, the Irish Examiner understands. The promise to freeze fees at €3,000 a year for college students was made by Mr McHugh despite ongoing demands from universities for the Government to address a major funding shortfall in the sector …” (more)

[Daniel McConnell, Irish Examiner, 12 August]

“A formal loan scheme for third-level students will not be introduced and college fees will be frozen, the Government has pledged. Minister for Education Joe McHugh said university registration fees will not go beyond €3,000 per year if Fine Gael is returned to Government after the next general election …” (more)

[Jennifer Bray, Irish Times, 11 August]

“Minister for Education Joe McHugh has pledged not to raise college fees past €3,000 for the next five years if his party is returned to government in the next general election. In a move that echoes the recent promise by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar not to increase Ireland’s fees …” (more)

[Donal MacNamee, University Times, 11 August]

“Education Minister Joe McHugh has told the Sunday Independent that college fees will be frozen for five years if Fine Gael returns to government after the next general election. The cap for annual registration fees is €3,000 per year and McHugh told the paper that the party has ‘no plans’ to increase that …” (more)

[TheJournal.ie, 11 August]

“It was around this time three years ago that the Cassells report – a groundbreaking review of potential higher education funding strategies – was officially released. Three years later, and still the government has failed to act. There’s been talk. Committees have convened. Options have been discussed. But the government has consistently failed to deliver on the report’s most crucial recommendation: action …” (more)

[Jack Synnott, University Times, 15 July]

“Minister for Education Joe McHugh has said reducing student contribution charges by a third would cost the government over €76 million, while taking €500 off the charge would set the Department of Education back €38 million …” (more)

[Donal MacNamee, University Times, 12 July]

“Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of a reduction of €100 to the student contribution at third-level …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 11 July]

“Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first and full-year cost of reducing the student contribution rate by €250, €500 or €1,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 10 July]

“Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if universities are free to set out their own level of non-refundable capitation fee for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 9 July]

“Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to abolish higher level education fees for both institutes of technology and universities …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 2 July]

“Sports club auditors were tonight handed a document by UCD Staff calling for their support to maintain the student levy at its current rate or else face cuts to student services across campus. The document handed to auditors mentions that certain clubs would face closures, be forced to pay rent for facilities and would see supports for teams reduced if the levy was not continued …” (more)

[Aaron Bowman, College Tribune, 4 March]

“Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first and full year cost of abolishing third-level fees …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 6 November]

“Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Kathleen Funchion TD has said that students have been completely forgotten in this year’s budget once again. Teachta Funchion said: ‘Year after year, budget after budget, students undertaking third level education are on their own under the current Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil government …'” (more)

[Sinn Féin, 10 October]

“Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of each €100 reduction in the student contribution charge at third level …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 20 September]

“Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost per annum of maintaining third level charges at their current rate for each year of the next five years; the cost of abolishing all such fees for each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 12 July]

“Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reduce or abolish the student contribution for third level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 4 July]

“College’s Chief Financial Officer, Ian Matthews, had considered the idea of placing a €1500 capital levy on undergraduate students. The remarks were made at a ‘town hall’ meeting hosted by the Trinity Graduate Students’ Union (GSU). Matthews stated that it was his idea and that he took ‘ownership of it’ …” (more)

[Rory O’Neill, Trinity News, 23 January]