The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) slammed Ógra Fianna Fáil for their proposal of a new student loan scheme.
“Central to the policy is a proposal to introduce an ‘Income Contingent Loan System’ which will allow every student to have access to the financial support they need while also injecting much needed funding into the third level system,” the proposal from the youth branch of Fianna Fáil reads.
President of the USI, Kevin Donoghue, said “The federal third level loan system did not work in the UK or the USA. It would be impractical and illogical to introduce an already broken loan scheme to Ireland.”
USI said that they believe the scheme would be overwhelming and will intimidate and discourage third level students from applying to college.
Ógra Fianna Fáil, aims to create a free access system education. “A new pragmatic approach to the declining third level system is needed,” their proposal claims.
The USI heavily criticised the new proposal by describing it as an unwelcome addition to an already broken loan system that will dissuade and turn students off from entering third level education.
“The student loan system crippled the government so much in the UK that they had to sell off the student loan books at the end of 2013,” said Donoghue.
Donoghue, while reiterating the damage this system caused in the UK said, “It would desecrate Ireland.”
Katie Gallagher
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