The joint presidents of Fórsa issued a statement supporting student protests two weeks ago against extortionate repeat fees and other hidden charges on students at Trinity College Dublin.

The union also condemned moves to prevent student protesters from accessing food, water and toilet facilities, and called on Trinity management to refrain from disproportionate responses to legitimate student protest.

The full statement from Fórsa’s three joint presidents follows:

“Fórsa offers its full support to Trinity College students protesting at proposals to introduce extortionate repeat fees of €450 per module. The union believes this move, which follows the introduction of other hidden ancillary charges, is an unnecessary burden on students and a further barrier to poorer students attempting to gain a third-level education.

Fórsa believes that education spending is an investment - in citizens, society and the economy – rather than a cost, and calls for adequate public funding for higher education at Trinity and across the third level sector.

The union also condemns the college’s moves to prevent student protesters from accessing food, water and toilet facilities, and calls on management at Trinity to refrain from disproportionate responses to legitimate student protest.”

Pat Fallon, Ann McGee and Niall McGuirk, joint presidents, Fórsa trade union.