In an impressive show of strength, more than 8,000 students marched on the Dáil yesterday to highlight their opposition to the return of third-level fees. By Sean Flynn, Education Editor
The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) claimed that more than 10,000 students took part. At one stage, the march clogged the streets around the Dáil, including Molesworth Street and Dawson Street.
The protest was addressed by the main opposition leaders while scores of backbenchers also expressed their support. After the main march dispersed, a small group of mostly Sinn Féin and Socialist Workers' Party members staged a sit-down protest outside the Dáil - but there were no serious incidents.
The march comes as the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, completes a report on third-level funding. The Minister has said that fees may return for "those who can afford them" in order to widen access at third-level.
His report, which is expected to set out a series of options, including student loans and up-front fees, is not expected until next month.
In the Dáil yesterday, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, stressed that Mr Dempsey had already made it clear that he was examining third-level funding to ensure that more people from disadvantaged backgrounds went to college.
Mr Colm Jordan, USI president, who organised the demonstration, warned that "mass non-payment of fees" would be considered if the Government pressed ahead with its plans. "The vast numbers that have turned out and the overwhelming support we have received from the public show that there is huge resistance." Mr Jordan also said the return of fees would lead to spiralling inflation, which would damage the partnership process.
The Minister, he said, also believes that a family should be earning less than €21,629 for them to receive a grant, and families have no guarantee that the threshold for the payment of fees would not be equally low."
Mr Noel Hogan, campaigns officer, USI, said: "Anybody looking on today who believes that students are apathetic is out of touch with reality." The numbers that turned out, despite exam pressure and study worries, showed clearly that "student activism is alive and well in Ireland", he said.
The Labour Party spokeswoman on Education, Ms Jan O'Sullivan TD, has challenged the Government to state clearly whether third-level fees will be reintroduced.
Mr Dempsey, she said, had subjected students to a litany of threats and warnings.
She said: "Students are being treated as pawns by Dempsey and McCreevy et al on the chessboard that is the Government's fiscal policy. They are looking around for the next victim to carry the can for more cutbacks. Exchequer-funded third-level education is a right, not a privilege."
Fine Gael's spokeswoman, Ms Olwyn Enright, joined students on their march. She said: "No one believes that this issue is genuinely being examined from an equality perspective - rather it is obvious that it is just another backdoor revenue-raising exercise by this Government.
"Fine Gael," Ms Enright said, "led the government that abolished third-level fees and we stand by that commitment.
"This Government has already increased college registration fees by 69 per cent and has abolished the student summer job scheme. It is clear that third-level fees are their next target."