ICMSA calls for €1,000 student fee reduction to be retained
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) has called for a reduction of €1,000 in the student contribution fee to be retained in Budget 2026.
The student contribution fee has been charged at a reduced rate for the last number of years and was originally announced in Budget 2023 as part a response to the escalating cost of living.
The €1,000 reduction has been continued at each subsequent budget.
However, according to the Citizens Information website, the maximum rate of the student contribution fee for the coming academic year (2025-2026) will be €3,000, the rate it stood at before the reduction was introduced.
Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless has also indicated in media interviews in recent days that the fee reduction will not continue in Budget 2026.
Responding to this, the ICSMA has expressed "serious concerns" about the impact on farm families and students.
Pat O'Brien, the chairperson of the ICMSA Farm Businesses Committee, said: "The government suggested before the last election that further education would become more affordable.
"Many families voted for this government with that in mind.
"How have the tables turned so completely? Now we're facing even higher costs to send our kids to college," O'Brien said.
The ICMSA said that the €1,000 fee reduction was introduced as part of Budget 2023 to "alleviate the cost-of-living" crisis.
However, the farm organisation cited the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising 7.4% from the time of that announcement to May of this year.
According to O'Brien, removing the fee reduction now "would place additional strain on families already grappling with soaring expenses".
"Reducing student contribution fees is actually written into the Programme for Government. There's a clear contradiction here if you ask me. Rent for student accommodation is astronomical," he said.
O'Brien added: "Families can easily spend upwards of €8,000 a year on college accommodation alone.
"If you're sending more than one child to college, the financial pressure is immense and everyone should have the opportunity to attend further education."
The ICMSA is calling on the government to ensure that the €1,000 student fee reduction is part of the next budget, and to consider increasing the reduction.
