Fianna Fáil General Election candidate for Tipperary Cllr. Imelda Goldsboro says her party is determined to make third level education affordable again and has put forward a range of measures to ease the financial burden on students.
The party plans to establish a new Department of Higher Education and Research to ensure that the demands of third level do not fall through the cracks as has been happening under Fine Gael.
Cllr. Goldsboro said, “Fianna Fáil has a proud record of expanding free education and transforming the lives of generations of Irish people. We want to continue that tradition and have placed education at the heart of our strategy.
“The high cost of third level can often deter students from applying to college in the first place. I believe that every young person should have the chance to broaden their horizons and their opportunities through education and my party is committed to freezing student fees if elected to government.
“The undergraduate maintenance grant is a key tool to alleviate the pressure on students and their families. The Cassells report specified the need for additional investment to deliver a more effective system of student financial aid, and if elected to government, my party will increase the undergrad maintenance grant by 20%.
“Fianna Fáil has secured a partial row back on some issues as part of the Confidence and Supply Arrangement but we want to go further. As part of our affordability pledge, we will fully restore post-graduate grants to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background or financial situation, can have the opportunity to undertake a post graduate course.
“Improving our education system has been a core objective of Fianna Fáil since its foundation and in government we will continue to push for better access and supports for all”.