Condemnation of further BTEA cuts

national | miscellaneous | event notice Friday November 14, 2003 12:50 by UCD Students' Union sueducation at ucd dot ie Student Centre, Belfield, D4 / S.U. Office, UCD, Earlsfort Terrace, D2. 7163108

UCD Students� Union Press Release

Students on Back to Education Allowance in UCD Condemn further cuts in BTEA Scheme.

Students to Protest outside Dáil on Monday 24th November at 1pm.

UCD Students� Union condemns the further cuts in the Back To Education Allowance scheme that Minister Coughlan announced in yesterday�s Estimates. Increasing the eligibly criteria from 6 months unemployed to 15 months unemployed is yet another disincentive to disadvantaged people seeking a second chance for their education.

UCD�s BTEA students are campaigning to have the BTEA scheme reinstated in its original form:
 To reverse the 25% cut in annual payments
 To allow students to pursue postgraduate qualifications
 To re-instate CE and VTOS Child-care schemes
 To leave the eligibility criteria at 6 months unemployment

Mick Power, a BTEA student in UCD, said: �This latest round of cuts to the BTEA scheme has added fuel to the fire of our anger and gives us more reason to protest against this Government�s regressive attitude to second chance students.�

Paul Dillon, UCDSU President, stated: �These attacks on education cannot be tolerated. These Government cut-backs are short sighted and go directly against their stated policy on access to education for the disadvantaged.�

Oisín Kelly, UCDSU Education Officer, said: �The effect of yesterday�s estimates only serve to raise the barrier for the long-term unemployed returning to education. This decision does not make sense.�


DÁIL PROTEST - Monday 24th November, 1pm.

UCD BTEA students and their families will be coming together with UCDSU, USI, VTOS students, the INOU and CORI to demonstrate their outrage at the Government�s continuing policy of cutting back on vital systems of support for students returning to education.

Contact Details:
Mick Power 086-8252777 mick.power.2@student.ucd.ie
Paul Dillon 087-6859446 supresident@ucd.ie
Oisín Kelly 087-9967072 sueducation@ucd.ie

ENDS