28th January 2010 

The Union of Students in Ireland has questioned the accuracy of a report by the Irish Universities Association, submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Science today (January 28).

The report, which attempts to account for how student registration fees are spent in Irish universities, is based on "unaudited, draft financial statements" from each institute.

In the IUA report, two contradicting figures are cited for the "median actual spend" per university student.

USI believes that the registration fee is currently being used to supplement the core grant in Irish universities and colleges nationwide.

The registration fee was intended to constitute a contribution towards the cost of student registration, examination and services that safeguard the well-being of students, such as chaplaincy, counseling and health facilities.

USI is calling for full transparency and an exact account of how registration fees are being spent by the universities of Ireland.

This will finally determine whether registration fees are being used to disguise tuition fees by the universities.

USI President, Peter Mannion, said:

"Today, the heads of the Irish universities and the Higher Education Authority failed to explain what exactly the student registration fee is being spent on.

Registration fees in Ireland have increased by 124% since 2002. It is now the second highest in Europe, with the UK being the only country where students pay higher fees.

From today's Oireachtas presentation, it is clear that students' registration fees are being used to compensate for under-funding of universities by the Government.

The registration fee is not being used for what it was originally intended: To defray the costs of student services.

This was re-iterated in the Oireachtas today by the President of UCD, Hugh Brady, who suggested that tuition fees do exist in Ireland, in the guise of the registration fee."