Sorca Clarke urges government to rethink student fees

TD for Longford-Westmeath, Sorca Clarke, has called the government plan to raise college fees by €1,000 a ‘betrayal’ that students and parents won't forget.

Speaking ahead of Sinn Fein's Dail motion to cut fees, which is part of a plan to abolish them, will coincide with a student and opposition protest outside Leinster House.

Sorca Clarke said: “There is a cost-of-living crisis raging, and instead of helping students and parents, the government is adding fuel to the fire. This was the last thing students and their parents needed or expected to hear.

“This is a suckerpunch to families that have simply not planned or budgeted for an extra €1,000 for every student.

“This will impact over 90,000 students across the state, and for many will mean the difference between going to college or not.

Sorca Clarke continued, giving reasons why the government shouldn't introduce these extra fees, saying: “Education is a right and should be free and available to everyone, we have the financial resources, and it makes economic sense to invest in your people.

“The government needs to turn around and go in the opposite direction on college fees. They should be reducing fees like they promised.

“I am calling on Peter Burke, Michael Carrigy, Kevin Boxer Moran and Robert Troy to support Sinn Féin's motion this week.”