IRELAND

Students march to oppose student loan scheme
In a statement issued as thousands of students marched through Dublin to voice their opposition to a loan scheme, Irish Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor said the government was adamant no “undue financial pressure” should be placed on parents and students, writes Carl O’Brien for The Irish Times.She said the government was awaiting a report from the Oireachtas education committee on the Cassells report on the future funding of higher education. This sets out a number of potential funding options, including a loans scheme or a fully state-funded third-level system.
The Union of Students in Ireland, which organised last Wednesday’s march, said any loan scheme will result in crushing student debt and push more graduates to emigrate.
Full report on The Irish Times site