Previously on Stretched, we looked at the financial burden on parents with children in primary and secondary school. Today's topic is the cost of third level education.
"At the moment fees are €3,000 a year," says Dr. Brian Gormley, Head of Campus Life at DIT. "Most of the universities have an additional levy which pays for student facilities."
With additional accommodation costs for students living away from home, Brian says the overall cost of education can be anything up to €12,000 a year. Despite huge competition for places, he emphasises the importance of getting a lease and viewing accommodation beforehand.
"Many are desperate and willing to take anything, and we would encourage them not to do that."
Katie Ascough, President of UCD Students Union, adds that when it comes to choosing accommodation, "It's whatever you can find. There's a 27,000 shortfall in beds around the country. There really is an accommodation crisis."
"Generally campus accommodation is out of students' price range, and it has to come down."
Katherine Donnelly, education editor with the Irish Independent, says "about 43% of students are on a grant. Typically on campus you're paying about €5,000 a year. But most grant holders are on about €3,000 a year or less."
Carly Bailey, a third year student at Trinity College, finds it very challenging to pay for her education costs.
"I'm a mature student, so I have additional costs like childcare and putting my own children through education. We're finding it difficult to manage each year. I receive some assistance from the state but I'm not eligible for the full student grant. It would be cheaper for me not to go to college, but we're victims of the recession."
Many students are forced to take on jobs with long hours in order to pay for their education costs, often to the detriment of their coursework and study time, as Katie Ascough explains.
"This can be a self-defeating cycle because if students are putting all their hours into their part-time jobs, they won't have enough time to study for their exams."
