Mattie McGrath: Calls to reduce student contribution to 2,000
Mattie McGrath spoke about student fees and urged the government to reduce the student contribution from 3,000 to 2,000, arguing it would increase access to higher education and reduce student debt. He criticised government uncertainty, cited cost of living pressures on students and families, and raised concerns about cuts to ETBs, apprenticeships and LTI courses.
McGrath called for a reduction of the student contribution back down to 2,000 from 3,000, saying this step would be a start in the programme for government. He said reducing contributions would ultimately help abolish fees, increase accessibility and participation in higher education, and reduce the financial burden on students and families.
He said there has been "nothing but uncertainty" since last Sunday week and described the situation as unfair and cynical, echoing comments attributed to Deputy Law. He referenced Minister Donovan of the last government as having set out criteria and said attempts to clarify the issue had caused confusion.
McGrath highlighted drastic cuts to ETBs and warned that apprenticeships and LTI courses for young people trying to get back on track have been hit. He described the reductions as a pernicious attack on students and questioned why students are being targeted amid wider cost pressures.
He emphasised the real-world effects on students and families struggling with the cost of living, noting the need for trained professionals such as doctors in the future. He welcomed the students present, referenced his own children finishing their studies recently, and repeated his personal mantra - Moana noaige agus teucitseed.
Request to cut student contribution
McGrath called for a reduction of the student contribution back down to 2,000 from 3,000, saying this step would be a start in the programme for government. He said reducing contributions would ultimately help abolish fees, increase accessibility and participation in higher education, and reduce the financial burden on students and families.
Criticism of government handling and uncertainty
He said there has been "nothing but uncertainty" since last Sunday week and described the situation as unfair and cynical, echoing comments attributed to Deputy Law. He referenced Minister Donovan of the last government as having set out criteria and said attempts to clarify the issue had caused confusion.
Cuts to ETBs, apprenticeships and LTI courses
McGrath highlighted drastic cuts to ETBs and warned that apprenticeships and LTI courses for young people trying to get back on track have been hit. He described the reductions as a pernicious attack on students and questioned why students are being targeted amid wider cost pressures.
Impact on students, families and future professions
He emphasised the real-world effects on students and families struggling with the cost of living, noting the need for trained professionals such as doctors in the future. He welcomed the students present, referenced his own children finishing their studies recently, and repeated his personal mantra - Moana noaige agus teucitseed.
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Transcript
Good morning. I too want to welcome the students here tonight and to plead with the government. Since last Sunday week now there has been nothing but uncertainty and it is not fair. Many students and their families struggle to afford a student contribution charge, even with grants and other forms of support. The cost of living makes it nearly impossible, we know that, and it is in the programme for government, so why do you put it in there if you are going to do the exact opposite? So reducing the student contribution back down to 2,000, you know, for the 3,000, it will help and it will be a start in the programme for government. So it is cynical, as Deputy Law has said, and if we reduce them, it will ultimately abolish the fees, it will serve to increase accessibility and participation in higher education, reduce student debt and financial burden on students and families, already struggling, and indeed provide long-term economic benefits on a young population. Moana noaige agus teucitseed. That is my mantra always. I am delighted that the students and my own kids, thankfully all of them finished just a year ago, the last of them, but it is a tough situation, and with the cost of living and increasing prices, it is worse. So Minister Donovan, of the last government, set out this criteria. I have some sympathy for Deputy Law is what he is trying to do, but by trying to put out an electress, I suppose he caused more confusion, and then over and back, and should they have student fees in the north of Ireland? There is no talk about that, but here in the south, I think we must do something to alleviate the pressures on students. We need them as doctors and as many, many other professional people. It has been a bad week for Education Minister, you are here tonight again, and I have to bring it up to you. The ETBs have been cut drastically too, and what has been cut? Apprenticeships and LTI courses for ordinary young people that maybe fell off the tracks, and trying to get back on. So why we are making such a pernicious attack on students, I don't know. It is simply not fair. In a time of so much so-called wealth and income, and everything else, why attack the students? They are the brave people we want. They are our future. Deputy Carole Knorrall, Deputy Carole Knorrall, Deputy Carole Knorrall, Deputy Carole Knorrall, Deputy Carole Knorrall,