Students take To Streets Against Fees.

Over 150 students took to the streets on Tuesday 30th of July in a USI protest against the 69% increase in capitation fees for third level students.

Over 150 students took to the streets on Tuesday 30th of July in a Union of Students in Ireland (USI) protest against the 69% increase in capitation fees for third level students. This was a very impressive turnout given that students are currently on holidays and the demonstration was organised at very short notice, and showed the anger of students at this re-introduction of Third Level Fees by the back door. Around half those present were local Students' Union and USI Officers, but nonetheless the mood was for serious action against any fees for education and Joe Higgins (Socialist Party T.D.) received a warm reception for his speech condemning the fee increase as a serious attack on access to third level education.
After the protest, an organising meeting was held to discuss where to take the campaign now. The mood here again was very militant with radical action against the fees being argued for by most. In order to turn this radical rhetoric into effective action, rank-and-file students must be mobilised against any charge for education. For this reason, the Campaign for Free Education is in the process of being launched by a number of different groups and individuals, with the aim of uniting all students across the country in a common fight against any barrier to access for education.
To subscribe to the Campaign for Free Education discussion group, send a blank email to campaignforfreeeducation-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

USI Press Release.

30 July 2002

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) today organised a protest involving student leaders from all over the country on the River Liffey boardwalk in response to the recently announced increase in the student capitation fee.

USI President Colm Jordan addressed the crowd from a boat on the river after he had released 69 rubber ducks to symbolise the recent announcement by the Minister for Education & Science, Noel Dempsey TD, that these fees are to be increased by a massive 69%. Afterwards, the students marched to the Department of Education & Science on Marlborough Street where they submitted a letter demanding an urgent meeting with the minister. USI have vowed to continue with a series of protests until they are granted the earliest possible meeting with the Minister regarding this unacceptable increase.

Colm Jordan, President, Union of Students in Ireland said: "Having travelled the length and breadth of the country since the Minister's announcement listening to students as well as college students' union representatives there is a common theme to the opinion amongst those who will be most affected by this increase.

While there is widespread anger across the board, there is also a deep sense of disappointment that one of Minister Dempsey's first announcements will have such a detrimental affect on so many students looking to attend college this year. There is annoyance that the Minister has chosen not to consult student bodies such as USI, as they have done in the past before issuing such a decision.

Students will not have budgeted for this increase from €396 to €670 and will be forced to borrow more money either from parents already struggling to support their child through college or if they are lucky enough to be allowed to do so by their bank. The financial strain will also force them to spend less time studying and no doubt affect their academic results .

USI National Council, which is made up of Presidents from students' unions across the country, as well as USI National Officers, is to meet on 16th August. It is imperative that USI representatives meet with the Minister before this date so this decision making body can decide on the best way to progress further with the Department of Education & Science to deliver the best deal for Irish students.

USI does not believe that this is the end of the matter, and should the Minister fail to acknowledge our request he is not only ignoring the concerns of USI, but insulting the thousands of students and their families."