University of Galway Students’ Union Statement on Increase of College Fees
“On Sunday June 29th, the Minister for Higher Education, James Lawless, announced that, as things stand, college fees will increase by €1,000 compared to last year. This is despite long overdue reforms to the SUSI grant system not yet being enacted.
University of Galway Students’ Union believe this is a retrograde step that will price people out of education. Students are already struggling to make ends meet with the ongoing cost of living crisis and ever increasing rent costs. Should this shameful decision come to fruition it will further add to existing financial pressures on students and their families.
49% of University of Galway students have said they struggle to pay rent. Half of students reported working part-time to afford college, and 56% reported that working has had a negative impact on their education.
An increase in fees will simply make this bad situation worse. We urge the Government to decide not to increase fees and instead take the appropriate measures to decrease and eventually abolish fees.”
