Committee vetoes plan for student fee hike
A Stormont committee today vetoed ministerial plans to increase student fees in line with inflation.
The Employment and Learning scrutiny committee left minister Reg Empey facing his first vote of confidence at the Assembly after promising to defeat regulations proposing a £75 (€104) increase.
The stand-off will be considered during a Stormont debate on official proposals to set fees at £3,145 (€4,400) a year.
Sinn Féin committee chairwoman Sue Ramsey said: “The evidence shows that the introduction of students’ fees has had a significant impact on students studying in our universities, on rising levels of student debt and on the falling numbers of students from disadvantaged backgrounds taking third level studies.
“It was a mistake for Reg Empey to seek to increase the level of students’ fees in the first place and I hope that we can get all-party support for this motion when it is debated in the Assembly.”
Ms Ramsey said she opposed any student tariff at all.
