Republican News · Thursday 13 March 2003

Ferris meets student leaders

Martin Ferris, Sinn Féin TD for Kerry North, met with Union of Students of Ireland leaders in Dublin on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing campaign against the reintroduction of Third Level fees. They also discussed the need for the strengthening of the current system of grants and the provision of state funded student accommodation. Deputy Ferris pledged his and Sinn Féin's continued support for USI on these issues.

"Having received dozens of representations on this issue from students within my own constituency, I am well aware of the level of anger among students and their families," said Ferris. "It is typical of this government that as soon as the economic and fiscal climate changes, they attempt to pay their way out of the crisis by attacking basic social provision.

"Third level education is not the preserve of the wealthy in our society and to attempt, as some government spokespersons have, to pretend that only the wealthy will be affected by any changes is cynical in the extreme. Myself and my party will continue to oppose any retrograde changes proposed by the government and to raise these issues in the Dáil as well as continuing to support the studentsí campaign outside."