Opinion: Many students will be locked out of third-level if costs and supports don't start to balance

Callaghan Commons Callaghan Commons is the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Dublin City University Students’ Union.WE LIKE TO think of Ireland as a fair and just society where everyone has equal opportunities. However, numerous barriers are currently in place that prevent young people from accessing third-level education. Budget 2020 could change this, but will it?One of the main issues facing students and young people in Ireland at the moment is accommodation.

Due to these high rents, students have been forced to couch-surf, sleep in their cars or in some cases drop out of college altogether. Many students are also commuting long distances across the country to attend college everyday. In 2016, the Cassells report offered three options for the funding of Irish higher education institutes. The first is the removal of the student contribution fee and introducing a publicly-funded model. The second option is leaving the current student contribution charge in place and increasing state funding of universities and other third-level institutions.

Little-to-no support According to the Union of Students in Ireland , the number of students in receipt of the SUSI grant has fallen from a height of over 80,000 in 2015 to 76,000 in 2018. However, the number of students in the Republic of Ireland has hit a high of 235,644 in 2017.

Most students have to work to pay high rents or commute long distances. There is an increase in stress and mental health issues. Facts that are ignored by the government and the Colleges.

FG considers infrastructure investment as planning for the future when our youth [students] are really our future. They are the people that will ultimately deliver the answers to all our problems. FG are failing now and are doing their best to fail us for the future.

The budget will do nothing. The only way to fix things is a populist revolution.

Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Man arrested after saw-off shotgun seized in north DublinDetectives and members of Armed Support Unit make arrest after house search in Cabra Hi Can we not concentrate on getting Glocks, Beretta's and other 9mm handguns off the streets?
Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »

'A lot of English people are stuck in 1939' - Bonnie Greer doubles down on Brexit comments | JOE.ieGreer has since doubled down on her passionate opinions, and emphasised the importance of Ireland's power when it comes to trading. *captured the hearts of Irish nationaIists.
Source: JOEdotie - 🏆 31. / 51 Read more »

The 9 at 9: SaturdayHere’s all the news you need to know as you start your day. It's the 9 at 9:
Source: thejournal_ie - 🏆 32. / 50 Read more »

Man arrested after gardai find loaded sawn-off shotgun in Irish houseMan arrested after gardai find loaded sawn-off shotgun at a house in Cabra, Co Dublin
Source: IrishMirror - 🏆 4. / 98 Read more »

Irish starlet Aaron Connolly bags brilliant brace in first Premier League startThe Irish teenager scored two to pile the misery on Tottenham Hotspur as he announced himself on the Premier League stage this afternoon
Source: IrishMirror - 🏆 4. / 98 Read more »