A coalition of concerned bodies at third level today expressed their anger that the Budget cuts have targeted those who can least afford the hardship for maximum punishment.

  Lecturer unions the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) and the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) and national students’ union the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) believe the Budgetary provisions will only serve to exacerbate the problem of educational disadvantage in Ireland.

TUI President Don Ryan stated:

“The cuts at third level are consistent with those in other sectors of education in that they target parents who can least afford the additional costs of their children’s education. Indeed, one could be forgiven for assuming the Minister when making the decision deliberately set out to target those who can least afford to pay.

Both working parents in a family can each earn considerably less than the average industrial wage and still not have entitlement to a maintenance grant for their college-going children.

Such a family, with two children attending third level, will be burdened with an extra €1,200 in registration fees alone, in addition to various tax hikes and the abolition of the Child Benefit for those over 18. It is no exaggeration to say that such a family could be confronted with the dilemma of which child they can afford to support in the next academic year. It is unfathomable that this could happen in Ireland in 2008.

Even before the Budget cuts announcement, there was serious concern among TUI members in Institutes of Technology regarding the lack of funds for laboratory and workshop activities for undergraduate programmes and overcrowding in lecture rooms and workshops. We anticipate that the reduction in provision for higher education of €43m, coupled with the recent 3% pay budget cut, will intensify these problems.”

IFUT General Secretary Mike Jennings said:

“We are completely dismayed by the Minister’s lack of empathy with this already grossly underfunded sector.

It is a certainty that elimination of child benefit for students over 18 will have a massive negative impact on third level access rates of students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

With parents already reeling from other Budget cuts, the slashing of this allowance will result in many families simply being unable to afford to send their child to college.

Of particular concern is the future of students currently studying to become teachers. It has been estimated that 2,000 jobs will be lost at primary and second level next year. With one stroke of Minister O’ Keeffe’s pen, the job prospects of these young people have been decimated for the foreseeable future.

Thanks to the Minister’s veiled threats, the fear that tuition fees may be re-introduced will only act as a deterrent from third level to the vast number of families struggling under a range of financial pressures today. ”

USI President Shane Kelly said:

“Minister O’ Keeffe has signalled his intent to develop a two tier education system across every sector.

The 67% hike in registration fees to €1,500 represents a crude and cynical attempt by Minister O’ Keeffe to raise revenue for the State coffers at the expense of students and their families. 

 Not only would the return of fees be a disaster for students and their families, but it would put at risk the very idea of our knowledge based economy by placing a barrier in front of those wishing to further their education.

The minister wants to lumber students and their families with debts in excess of €70,000 after they leave college, this would make the prospect of third level education, a privilege of the few and an unattainable aspiration for so many.

USI is committed to a fair and equitable education system, where everyone can reach their potential regardless of how wealthy they are. Minister O’ Keeffe’s Budget will only serve to further widen the gaps in our society.”