Author: Daniel Waugh

The Union of Students in Ireland has criticised the new proposed loan scheme for students. It said it is unreasonable and will deter students from applying to college. Irish college fees are already the second highest in Europe. College graduates could face loan repayments in the region of €25 a week over a 15-year period under major reforms to third-level funding proposed in a Government-commissioned report.                  Kevin Donoghue,  USI president A draft report recommends the introduction of a new income-contingent loan system for graduates, increased maintenance grants for students from low income families and a greater contribution from both the State and employers. The findings are contained in a confidential 70-page draft report entitled Funding Irish Higher Education: A Virtuous Circle of Investment, Quality and Verification. USI said that an already broken loan system will only further fracture the structure of the Irish education system. “This would represent a real increase of €7,500 in fees for third level. It is unreasonable to think an increase in the current fee levels should be part of addressing third level funding. We need to look at the stakeholders who aren’t making the contribution they should be.” Kevin Donoghue, Union of Students in Ireland President, said, “Irish college fees are already the second highest in Europe. In supposed times of recovery, 30,000 people have already emigrated from Ireland this year alone. The...