There was some good news for Irish emigrants this week when it was announced that colleges would cut fees for children of Irish emigrants.
Previously, if a student was not resident in Ireland for three out of the previous five years then he or she would be required to pay the same fees as an international (i.e. non-EU) student. These tend to be much higher than for fees for EU students – international students typically pay between €8,000 and €20,000 per year; EU students pay an average of €2,500 per year.
However, under the new rules if an applicant has spent at least five years in total in primary or post-primary education in Ireland (or in the EU), then they will only be asked to pay the same rate as other EU nationals.
The news will be welcomed by Irish parents who have had to leave Ireland to find work but may wish to someday return home and enroll their children in third-level education here.
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