Cutting cost of third level education must be Government priority – Fine Gael Senators

Fine Gael Senators have tabled a motion to be debated in the Seanad this week urging the Government to continue to reduce the student contribution fee during its lifetime.

The motion acknowledges the significant improvements made for students and their families across the country in cutting the cost of going to college and university in recent years. This includes a reduction in third level fees for the last two years and changes to eligibility criteria student grants to ensure more families can avail of support.

In addition to calling for a reduction in fees, the Seanad motion calls for a range of commitments in the Programme for Government on further and higher education to be fulfilled.

These include additional capital funding for the third level sector under the review of the National Development Plan, reforming the CAO, increasing funding for research, and identifying alternative routes into further education for the more practically minded student, particularly in high demand roles.

Senator Seán Kyne, the leader of the Seanad, said: “Third level education is a huge cost for families across the country. The student contribution fees, accommodation costs, and travel all add up and can be a significant cost for students and their parents.

“In the last few years, we have made good inroads in helping families by reducing costs particularly at a time when household bills have been impacted by inflation. It is important we meet the Programme for Government commitment to reduce the fees over a period of time and to build more student accommodation.”

Mike Kennelly, Fine Gael Senator and Spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, said: “The establishment of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has been transformative for third level education in this country.

“Apprenticeships are now more popular than ever, higher education degrees are now available outside the CAO system for the first time and we have started a new building programme for student accommodation.

“Our party leader, Tánaiste Simon Harris, began a lot of this work when he held the portfolio and it is really vital we continue to make progress in all these areas in the time ahead.

“That is why we want to see more funding for the third level sector under the review of the National Development Plan to develop our college campuses and build more accommodation.

“It is also vital we back research and innovation in this country by continuing to fund Taighde Éireann, a new agency, that will drive competitive research and innovation funding. This is even more important in this period of global economic uncertainty.

“The administration of President Donald Trump has taken the decision to reduce funding for universities and research centres in the United States. Ireland could potentially offer those impacted a place to live and study and certainly believe this is something the Minister should be actively looking at But in the first instance if we can show research is a priority, talent will come to Ireland bringing significant economic benefit.”