A protest will be held next week over the Government’s decision to increase college fees.
From September, fees will rise by €1,000.
College fees used to be €3,000 but that went down to €2,000 because of the cost of living crisis.
But there’s growing anger over the Government confirmation that will return to €3,000 this September.
Tanaiste Simon Harris insists there will be other measures to help students out:
"We have this discussion at this time every year, I've been the Minister for Higher Education and I'll always make the point that budget announcements are made on budget day."
He added, "look at our track record, we have found a way of founding students and their parents each year over the last number of years."
But opposition parties say this is not enough – Labour senator Laura Harmon says a protest rally is now being organised for next week:
"We hope that it might not have to come to that, that there could be a reversal of this messaging and this decision in the next week, I believe there has to be a reversal. The programme for Government clearly states that they want to decrease the student contribution fee over the lifetime of this Government."
Senator Harmon added, "If they're going to be increasing it as a start by €1,000, then that's a very bad start."
The demonstration will be held outside Leinster House next Tuesday at 6, amid growing calls for the Government to back down.
