College Fees Debate

Speakers: Kevin Barry, Dean of Arts. Muireann O’Dwyer, Students’ Union President

Kirwan Thursday 2nd October

A large, young, educated work force is what many observers say was the biggest contributor to Ireland’s economic boom (remember that Celtic Tiger thing they were always talking about?). Also, in a Liberal State such as ours, shouldn’t everyone have access to higher education even if they don't have enough money? Free degree anyone? “Yes please”, said basically everyone in the middle-classes who would probably have been willing and able to pay for it anyway. For one reason or another, the demographic at third level institutions stayed basically the same. Now Irish universities are having trouble competing with the best schools in the world, they don't have the funding.