TheCity

Tag: Budget2015

  • Budget 2015: A student’s guide

    Budget 2015: A student’s guide

    The rise in the contribution charge announced in the budget leaves a bad taste in the mouth for many students. Fees are up €250 making it an even €3,000 to pay most college registration fees next year.

    The Back To Education Allowance and the Student Grant scheme however have been left unaffected.

    There has been no reversal of the government’s position on post-grad students who will continue to receive no assistance.

    This budget has been seen by many as the government giving something back after the many years of austerity. In that vein there are other areas where small improvements have been made that may make life a little easier.

    The USC rate has cut from the 2% rate to 1.5% and the 4% rate to 3.5%. If you earn below €12,000 a year you will be exempt from the charge. This means a little bit more money in the pocket of those that support themselves with part-time work

    An Investment of €10m in college facilities for Institutes of Technology has also been announced. This will be spent on improving facilities and equipment.

    If you live in the city and attend college while receiving the grant of Back To Education Allowance you will not be able to avail of the €500 tax relief on offer to those already receiving social protection.

    The minister for education Jan O’Sullivan said “This Budget is set against the background of an improving economic situation…These are positive developments that will be built upon in the coming Budgets. “

    The old faithful rise in cigarette prices has continued. A 20 pack will now be 40c more expensive, while large rolling tobacco pouches have gone up by 25c. Alcohol and fuel are unaffected by this year’s budget.

    While many other people in the population have seen a more positive affect from the budget, the student population has a more subdued outlook from Tuesday’s news. The President of the Union of Students in Ireland Laura Harmon said: “Whilst we’re glad that no new cuts to student supports will be introduced in this budget, we’re not exactly breathing sighs of relief. The escalator on student contribution fees adds €250 more on to fees which are the second highest student fees in Europe, placing enormous financial pressure on students and families.”

  • Irish Students Unite in Pre-Budget Rally

    Irish Students Unite in Pre-Budget Rally

     

    Third level students from all over Ireland took to the streets of Dublin yesterday for the USI March for Education.

    The protest commenced at the Garden of Remembrance and the students marched to the Dáil in torrential rain, calling on the Government to protect essential student services in next month’s budget.

    Speaking at yesterday’s rally, NCI student Rebecca Caulfield (20) said, “If we didn’t protest and costs go up in the budget, it’s going to hold a lot of people back and less people are going to go on to third level education.”

    USI president Laura Harmon said that the main goal of the rally was to protect the existing State financial support services for third level students:

    “The main thing we hope to achieve is to highlight the fact that student supports need to be protected in Budget 2015.  The student maintenance grant and the Back to Education Allowance must be protected.”

    According to DIT Student Union President Fiachrá Duffy the march was the beginning of the USI’s #EducationIs campaign which aims to show the Government that education is a very positive thing for our society.

    “It is to get people behind us”, said Mr Duffy, “It isn’t just students; it is everyone coming together to say that education is positive and it should be made more accessible and more affordable for as many as possible.”

    Mr Duffy also added that around 45% of students studying in DIT are on some sort of State financial support.

    “It is essential that we call for those financial supports to be protected for our students” he said.

    Despite the weather it was estimated that 1,500 students from throughout the country took part in yesterday’s rally, and were joined by lecturers and trade unions.

    This was a low turnout compared to previous national scale protests in 2010 and 2011, in which around 40,000 students took part. However Fiachrá Duffy said that numbers weren’t an issue.

    “I think it was important that there were people there,” said the DITSU President.

    “It was to show that students from all over Ireland are united on the same issue, and I think that it is a representation that we are all calling for the same thing,” he added.

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