THE TEENAGE son of a Brazilian meat factory worker living in Tullamore has been granted his dream of going to college following a donation from an Irish Timesreader.
Fernando da Silva (19), who has lived with his father in Tullamore, Co Offaly, for more than seven years, scored enough points in the Leaving Cert to win a place on his first-choice course, computer and networking at Carlow Institute of Technology.
However, like hundreds of other children of non-EU migrant workers living in the Republic, Fernando – who now speaks with a broad Irish accent – does not qualify for free tuition because he is treated as an international student. Fees for the four-year course are almost €4,000 a year.
Current immigration rules do not pass on the long-term residency rights accrued by migrant workers from non-EU states to their children.
This means they are often categorised as foreign students and must pay college fees.
He told The Irish Timesin an interview earlier this month that he would not be able to go to college because his father could not afford the fees.
A generous reader who saw the article, but who wishes to remain anonymous, contacted the newspaper to offer to pay the fees for the four years.
Fernando said yesterday his parents were thrilled by the donation and he was looking forward to attending college.
“I can’t believe it. I just want to say thank you to this person who has made my future brighter and I will now be able to finish my education because of his help.
“I hope the law will change soon for all the other guys with the same situation I had,” he added.
The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland says current immigration rules cause heartache for hundreds of families, who have made their homes in Ireland and paid their taxes into the exchequer.
The centre is lobbying for a change in the law.