Sinn Féin spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, Mairéad Farrell TD, said Budget 2025 has already proved a disappointment for students.

Teachta Farrell said despite the talk of a ‘giveaway budget’ and a record government surplus, for students its proved to be a “damp squib”.

Teachta Farrell stated:

“What students wanted to see was movement towards a permanent reduction of the student contribution charge (€3k).

“Instead, we got a continuation of previous years, where the government does a one-off reduction of €1k, meaning it returns to €3k next year. So it’s a case of déjà vu.

“Sinn Féin has given a commitment to eliminate the Student Contribution charge, which is fees by another name. Our budget outlined a €1,500 reduction this year, which would be the first step toward elimination it over the next few years. That’s the kind of roadmap the government should have set out.

“In terms of student supports, there was a distinct lack of clarity in the government’s budget document and in the Minister’s speeches.

“There were some throw away lines in the speeches and some unclear measures in the document, which were wrapped up with others, so we need to see the details on what this will mean for student’s pockets.

“I couldn’t see any mention of the word ‘SUSI’ so we are going to have to wait to see if there is anything in this regard. We had proposed a 15% increase for the adjacent and non-adjacent rates, because this is what students need to deal with the cost of living crisis.

“In terms of the student accommodation crisis, which continues to go from bad to worse, the government just aren’t at the races. In fact they don’t even appear to be within a country mile of the race track.

“They have proposed that €100m will be spread over three years to help activate shovel ready projects. Our budget proposed €100m in this year alone, with another €100m annually over the next two years. This is what is needed.

“Instead, their document talks about the use of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). I had long said that this is the direction that they would go in. Much like the vulture funds, the only beneficiaries of this will be the investors.

“The €33m that they are to provide each year of the next three is unlikely to even keep up with the growing size of the student population.

“This is another attempt at maintaining an undersupply to keep rent high, to make it attractive for institutional investors. This government has forgotten students again.”