Students hold pre-budget rally over cuts and housing crisis

Third level students are holding a rally in Dublin today to call for the reversal of cuts to the sector and urgent Government action on student accommodation in next week’s budget.

The Union of Students in Ireland is predicting a show of thousands, including members of college staff, trade unions and secondary school students.

The demonstration, aimed at having education “ recognised as a public good”, will leave the Garden of Remembrance shortly after noon and proceed down O’Connell Street and through the city to Leinster House, arriving around 1 pm.

The Government has already announced plans to increase the student registration fee by another €250 to €3,000 for the next academic year.

The USI says the revenue from this charge should remain within colleges, rather than go to the exchequer. It also wants the Government to take proposals for a student loans system or graduate tax off the table.

Speaking in advance, USI president Laura Harmon said: "We're here today to build a coalition in support of education. Education is Ireland's hope for a better future - so we're prepared to work hard to promote the value of it.

“Students, college staff and trade unions want to work together with other civil society organisations to highlight the central role college can have in the future development of Irish society.

“College is too expensive for many with the second highest fees in Europe,” she said. The student maintenance grant helps thousands who otherwise could not afford to enter third level education, she added. It was protected for the first time in five years in Budget 2014 “and needs to be protected again now”.

“The cost of living for students continues to rise - there’s been a 10 per cent national increase in rental prices and 17 per cent increase in Dublin over the last year. It’s getting harder to make ends meet; there really must be some relief for students in Budget 2015.”