Migrants win concession on third level education fees

By Dick Ahlstrom. Students with Irish or EU passport will not longer have to pay up to €12,000 yearly. Migrant families living in Ireland have won an important educational concession, winning the right to be treated the same as any Irish student entering third level education. The decision by the Department of Education and Skills to regularise fees has been strongly welcomed by the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland and the Union of Student’s in Ireland.
The Centre has waged a two-year campaign to gain this concession, which is one of many changes needed to achieve full parity of access to education. It means that Leaving Cert students legally living in Ireland who have an Irish or EU passport will only pay the standard registration fee, €2,500 this year, rather than the €10,000 to €12,000 paid by international students. The change will also allow these students to apply for grants associated with higher education. Full article...