Here’s to a winter of high jinx 
Tens of thousands of students are protesting in Dublin today against increases in registration fees, with reports of some clashes with gardaí in the city centre.
About 2,000 students gathered on Merrion Row close to the Department of Finance.
Witnesses said a brick and eggs were thrown at the building and that a group of about 15 students made it inside. Gardaí later ejected them.
Up to 25,000 students from colleges across the State had joined today’s march on Leinster House.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen today refused to be drawn on the possible reintroduction of third-level fees in next month’s budget.
Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Cowen said he was not in a position to divulge any discussions taking place in Cabinet on the various adjustments to be made. “We have to look at all of these issues,’’ he said.
Mr Cowen was challenged on the issue by Labour leader Eamon Gilmore in advance of today’s march.
Mr Gilmore said there was a commitment in the revised programme for government which said there would be no new scheme of student contribution for third-level education. He said that had been interpreted by the Green Party as meaning that fees would not be reintroduced by the backdoor by way of an increase in the student registration fee.
Last week, Union of Students in Ireland (USI) president Gary Redmond said a rise in the registration fee would have a major impact on students.
“I think we’re looking at a horrendous situation where parents and families are going to have to decide which, if any, of their children can go to college in future.”
Mr Redmond said attempts by the Government to raise the student services charges, more commonly known as the registration fee, would not achieve anticipated savings as they would be offset by those who were receiving a grant. "We simply don’t know where students are going to get this money from.”
As well as the registration fee, which currently stands at €1,500, Mr Redmond noted that individual colleges also charged an additional levy of between €150 and €350 for student centres and other facilities.
The Irish Times understands that both student grants and increases in registration fees are likely in this year’s budget as the Department of Education attempts to find ways to reduce its spending.
