"This House Would Reintroduce 3^rd Level Fees"

Date: Thursday 8th October

Time: 7pm

Location: Kirwan Theatre

When the possibility of reintroducing third level fees first appeared on the political agenda over a year ago, the reaction from the student world was swift and widespread. Since then, the student population have made their opposition to fees very clear. Yet despite all the protests and campaigns, third level fees are on the verge of being reintroduced.

Are students right in demanding free third level education? If we believe that a college education is a right, then certainly it should be free, but many would argue that beyond your Leaving Cert, more education is a choice and a privilege. The current grim economic climate is adding fuel to the fees debate with concerns such as third level administration costs and large class-sizes splashed all over the media. Should we face the facts that fees are in fact necessary to sustain our third level education system?

But do we really want a system like the USA or the UK, where new graduates are saddled with thousands of Euros worth of debts? Ireland prospered before because of a well educated workforce and a strong knowledge economy built on this, are we really wise to throw all that away? The Lit & Deb always tries to address the issues that are most important to the student body and there is no issue more pressing than this.

Speaking against the re-introduction of third level fees will be SU President Donna Cummins and President of USI, Peter Mannion. Supporting the re-introduction of Fees will be the Registrar & Deputy President of NUI Galway, Professor James Ward.