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It seems the government has scrapped plans for a student loan scheme.<\/p>\nIt seems the government has scrapped plans for a student loan scheme.<\/p>\n
Junior Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor has told students it’s “off the table” while the current government is in place.<\/p>\n
Opponents of the “study now, pay later” system say it would heap thousands of euro of debt on students.<\/p>\n
Michael Kerrigan from the Union of Students in Ireland says they have been campaigning against it for a long time.<\/p>\n
“We had 12,000 students on the streets in October 2016, we had 20,000 students on the streets in 2017, we’ve had countless meetings with TDs,” he said.<\/p>\n
“This is welcome news and we’re looking forward to more clarity on the statement.”<\/p>\n
Labour’s Education spokesperson, Aodh\u00e1n \u00d3 R\u00edord\u00e1in has called on Minister Mitchell OConnor to put her plans for future funding of higher education on the record of both Houses of the Oireachtas.<\/p>\n
“Last week, Minister Mitchell O\u2019Connor told a DCU student leader that a student loan scheme is off the table,” he said.<\/p>\n
“This is great and welcome news but if the Minister is serious about not introducing a student loan scheme, then she needs to make a statement in either the D\u00e1il and Seanad saying as much.<\/p>\n
“The Minister needs to do more than give soothing platitudes to students protesting outside the D\u00e1il gates.<\/p>\n
Next week, I\u2019ll be calling the Minister into the Seanad for her to put her views on the record of the House.<\/p>\n