The government\u2019s intention to examine a two-track approach to college fee reductions is fundamentally flawed and fails to honour previous promises made to students, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins.<\/p>\n
Deputy Cummins, who is the party\u2019s spokesperson on further and higher education, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cAny proposal to offer partial relief to some students while maintaining the full contribution rate for others must be strenuously resisted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile T\u00e1naiste Simon Harris and Minister James Lawless have attempted to defend a possible two-tier model, any such fudge would amount to a serious betrayal of trust.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are now seeing a clear trend emerging, with Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael ministers promising one thing during an election campaign, and then attempting to backtrack on these commitments once in office. This is just the latest example of why this government cannot be trusted.<\/p>\n
\u201cRaising student contribution fees by \u20ac1,000 per year in the middle of a cost of living crisis will make third level education more inaccessible for some students, placing an intolerable financial burden on their families.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is growing concern that the clear commitment in the programme for government to reduce \u2013 and gradually phase out \u2013 the student contribution fee is already being reneged on.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is against the backdrop of a national housing emergency, with average student rents in Dublin exceeding \u20ac1,200 per month \u2013 significantly more than other European cities. Extortionate rents are forcing some students to commute long distances every day, defer taking up third level places, or even drop out of college altogether.<\/p>\n
\u201cPhasing out fees would make third level education more accessible and equitable. However, the two-tier model now being mooted is a watered-down version of the government\u2019s original commitment.<\/p>\n
“Instead of providing clarity and relief after a week of chaotic messaging from government ministers, this latest proposal is generating unnecessary confusion and anxiety as the upcoming academic year approaches.<\/p>\n
\u201cStudents and their families need to know what they are going to be paying come September. They deserve certainty, not shifting promises or political manoeuvring.<\/p>\n
“The government must follow through on its original promise and continue to reduce fees each year until they are abolished entirely. Anything less would amount to a grievous betrayal of trust.\u201d<\/p>\n
July 3, 2025<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The government\u2019s intention to examine a two-track approach to college fee reductions is fundamentally flawed and fails to honour previous promises made to students, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party\u2019s spokesperson on further and higher education, said: \u201cAny proposal to offer partial relief to some students while maintaining […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":11586,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[218,581,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-jen-cummins","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n