FREE STUDENT NEWSPAPER
VOL 13, ISSUE 9
13 FEB 2012
College Fees Set to Jump to € 3,000 By Marése O’Sullivan Taoiseach Enda Kenny, last week confirmed statements made by the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, indicating that college fees will indeed increase. The contribution charge for university students currently stands at €2,000. In spite of Minister Quinn’s pre-election pledge – made just four days before the 2011 election – that he would not allow the pay-
ment for education to rise while in government, he has admitted that fees will escalate by €250 for the next three years, making the cost €3,000 by 2015. The Taoiseach believes that having a top-notch third-level sector comes at a price, and that savings must be made in order to ensure its success. “We need to be right up there, even further up [than] where we are,” Kenny stated. “It’s part of my own philosophy that we
Students before they set off on their protest to the Radisson where Eamore Gilmore was speaking on 2nd February.
prove by 2016 we’re the best country in the world in which to do business. A really strong and vibrant third-level system is fundamental to that, and it’s got to be paid for.” In the December budget, it was indicated that fees were to rise, but this was only confirmed on Thursday 2 February, when Minister Quinn spoke to University of Limerick students. “We now have this €2,000 fee, [which will be] €2,250 next year and it is probably increasing up to €3,000,” he told them. “That is kind of the downside of the story.” When asked what his response was in regard to violating his ‘no fees’ guarantee, he had this to say: “With regard to breaking promises, I didn’t feel great about it all. I still don’t feel great about it, but I have to get on with it.” The President of NUI Galway, Dr. James Browne, commented on the increase in fees: “It
has been clear for some time that the state’s commitment to widening participation in third level, in the interest of citizens and of the wider society, is not compatible with the state continuing to assume the major burden of financing third level education. “I regret the fact that these increased burdens are being imposed on students, and particularly during very difficult economic times, but unfortunately I see no real alternative. At least by signalling his intentions in advance, the Minister is allowing students to plan for their future. I should also make clear that the increased ‘registration fees’ of recent years have not resulted in increased income for the universities. Increases have been matched by a corresponding reduction in Higher Education Authority funding.” Continued on Page 2
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Sigerson Update: The Controversial Final Whistle
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NUI Galway Honours Student Excellence By Martina Gannon
NUI Galway honoured students’ academic brilliance with a series of award ceremonies held in Aras na MacLeinn. The awards, entitled Entrance Scholarships, Awards Day and University Scholarships honoured Leaving Certificate students, undergraduates and postgraduates. On Saturday, 4 February NUI Galway awarded University Scholarships to 551 students who performed outstandingly in their pre-degree examinations. Four Entrance Scholarships for outstanding Leaving Certificate results were also awarded
as well as a broad array of prizes, medals and awards to various students for their excellence in performance in each of their individual subjects in the University’s five Colleges. Bríd Carr from the Records, Registration and Conferring office in NUI Galway explained that these awards have been run publically since 2004 but have been a part of the University’s strategic plan for years. She explained that they were made public to give students recognition as well as to encourage students to attend NUI Galway. She identified Arts as being one of the most popular and long-
standing awards. Each recipient is generally awarded €250. Bríd Carr explained what she thought it meant to the students: “ I t ’s a m a z i n g ! T h e y actually walk up to the president, receive their gold envelope and they’re photographed and with the economic crisis it (the awards/prizes) is even more important.” Tara Leydon another organiser of the event, spoke of the parents ‘huge excitement’ at the prospect of attending their sons and daughters awards ceremony and celebrating their success. Continued on Page 2
A piece from the Origami Installation as part of Múscailt Arts Festival 2012. Photo by Shannon Reeves.