Fine Gael firmly committed to cutting student fees – O’Connell

The Government must continue to reduce the student contribution fee during its lifetime to ease the financial burden on young people and families, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy O’Connell, the party’s Dáil spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, said: “When the first reduction of student contribution fees was put in place, I was working as a lecturer in TU Dublin, and I had the chance to hear first-hand from students on the impact this policy made to their lives.

“To put this in context, for every €1 increase in social welfare rates, the cost is approximately €75 – €80 million. A €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee costs €99 million. These are the choices that the Government will need to make as part of the Budget.

“We must build on the progress made in recent years and I will engage with the Tánaiste and relevant Ministers to ensure the commitments in the Programme for Government – including the continued reduction in the student contribution fee – is delivered.”