Mick Clifford: Third-level fee rise sparks backlash — but who is really hardest hit?
This week, minister for higher education James Lawless said that third level students will have to pay an extra €1,000 in fees this year compared to last year, which would see the contribution return to €3,000.
For most of the week, a cohort of middle Ireland was on RTÉ’s . Joe is no longer there to talk to, so they made do with Philip. And boy, did they have a lot to get off their chests.
The topic that has got many people angry enough to pick up the phone is what looks like an increase in third-level fees. This payment is called a “registration fee”. It stood at €3,000 but was reduced in 2022 to €2,000 as a cost of living measure. This was one of a number of supports provided by the Government to offset steep inflation.
