Violence Mars Dublin Student Fees Protest

There have been violent scenes in Dublin today followed a mainly peaceful student protest against plans to increase registration fees.

Thousands of students this afternoon marched to Merrion Square, where they were addressed by student leaders.

However, trouble erupted between Gardaí and students in Merrion Row after police officers in riot gear forcibly ejected students who had occupied the lobby of the Deptartment of Finance.

The Gardaí Mounted Unit was then brought into action with officers from the Dog Unit who have also been patrolling the grounds of Leinster House.

Union of Students in Ireland (USI) President Gary Redmond said he is saddened by the actions of a minority of protestors.

Mr Redmond said the occupation of the Department of Finance by a number of protestors is not representative of the USI.

He said that many of the clashes with Gardaí occurred during the USI address of protestors on Merrion Square and said the actions of protestors engaged in a sit-down protest outside Leinster House was also not condoned by the USI.

Speaking before the trouble the USI President said up to 20,000 students from colleges across the State were to join the rally against the fees hike: "I think we're looking at a horrendous situation where parents and families are going to have to decide which, if any, of their children can go to college in future."

Mr Redmond said attempts by the Government to raise the student services charges, more commonly known as the registration fee, would not achieve anticipated savings as they would be offset by those who were receiving a grant.

"Due to the worsening economic climate this year we're going to see about one in every two students receiving a grant," he said. "We simply don't know where students are going to get this money from."

As well as the registration fee - which currently stands at €1,500 - Mr Redmond noted that individual colleges also charged an additional levy of between €150 and €350 for student centres and other facilities.

The USI also said that thousands of students would be forced to dropout if the registration fee rises again as the latest speculation is that the charge will rise even more from its current level of €1,500 to €2,500.

Meanwhile, AA Roadwatch was this afternoon advising motorists of traffic disruption as a result of the protest and associated trouble.

See: Student Doctors Face £70k Tuition Fees

(BMcC/GK)