STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES gathered outside Leinster House yesterday to voice their concerns over recent developments in the proposed introduction of third-level student contributions.
Up to 30 protesters, representing various universities and institutes of technology across the country, joined officials from the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) at the demonstration. It was held in response to Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe presenting a discussion document to the Cabinet this week setting out five options on college fees, including Mr O’Keeffe’s preferred option of a student loans system.
“What we want to do is make sure we educate the Minister before any decision is made. Education is about students, we are the principal stakeholders,” said USI president Peter Mannion.
At the protest Mr Mannion gave information packs to Sinn Féin education spokesman Senator Pearse Doherty, who promised to hand them to a number of Cabinet Ministers.
Among the TDs who made brief appearances to show support were Labour’s Joan Burton and education spokesmen Brian Hayes (Fine Gael) and Ruairí Quinn (Labour).