What will the budget mean for students?

As Budget 2025 approaches, those in third-level education have made clear what they want to come from it.

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has said there is a “significant opportunity” in Budget 2025 for the Government to finally address the serious challenges facing third-level students.

The USI is calling on the Government to reduce fees by €1,500 now and to introduce a plan to abolish fees entirely over the next few years.

The Irish Times has reported that Fine Gael Minister for Higher Education Patrick O’Donovan wants to continue the “momentum” of third-level student fee reductions brought in by his predecessor in the role, Taoiseach Simon Harris.

Mr O’Donovan is set to look for a further €500 cut to third-level fees to build on the €1,000 reduction already in place, which would halve the fee to €1,500 from its former level of €3,000.

Budget 2025 will be delivered by Minister for Finance Jack Chambers on Tuesday, October 1st.