Sinn Féin TD John Brady has launched a scathing attack on the government’s decision to impose a €1,000 hike in third-level student fees, calling it a cruel and disgraceful blow to students and families already overwhelmed by the relentless cost-of-living crisis.
Deputy Brady said this latest move by the government is a shocking betrayal of young people and a clear signal that Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael are completely out of touch with the everyday struggles of working families across Wicklow.
He said:
“The government’s decision to increase student fees by €1,000 is absolutely scandalous. At a time when families are facing unprecedented financial pressure — with skyrocketing grocery bills, soaring fuel costs, and unaffordable energy prices — this fee hike is not just unacceptable, it’s shameful.
This is a deliberate and deeply unfair attack on students and families who are already stretched beyond their limits. Parents and students are desperately trying to make ends meet, and now they’re being punished further just for trying to pursue an education.
It is beyond belief that, instead of providing support, this government has chosen to add to the burden. This is not just tone-deaf — it is heartless policymaking that will force many young people to abandon or delay their education altogether.
The reality is that for many families, this hike will be the final straw. I’ve spoken to parents across Wicklow who are now forced to make impossible choices about which of their children they can afford to send to college. That is the brutal cost of this government’s neglect. It is not acceptable in any civilised society, and it is certainly not acceptable in a country that claims to value education.
Let’s be clear — this is not happening in isolation. This decision comes just weeks after the government moved to erode protections for student renters, which will inevitably lead to higher rents and more pressure on students. Together, these policies amount to a coordinated assault on young people’s right to education and housing.
Time and time again, this government has proven that it is willing to sacrifice the future of our young people to balance the books or protect the wealthy and well-connected. It has consistently turned its back on students, renters, and struggling families — all while pretending to care.
Sinn Féin takes a different approach. We believe in investing in our young people. We believe that education should be a right, not a privilege for those who can afford it.
That’s why Sinn Féin is demanding a cost-of-living rescue package in September that will cut student fees by €1,500 as a first step toward abolishing them altogether. We have a clear plan to support students, reduce financial pressures on families, and build a fairer and more equal education system.
The Ireland that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are building is one where only the wealthy can afford to send their children to college. Sinn Féin rejects that vision. We are fighting for an Ireland where everyone — regardless of background — has a genuine chance to succeed.
Our young people are the future of this country. They deserve a government that backs them, supports them, and helps them thrive. Sinn Féin will not stand by while their futures are mortgaged to pay for the failures of those in power. We will demand better — and we will deliver better.” ENDS