May 10
17
Fermanagh student loan applications unwelcome
Fermanagh/ South Tyrone MLA Tommy Gallagher
SDLP Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Tommy Gallagher has described new proposals for student loans as ill-conceived and unwelcome news for young people.
Commenting on the proposals by the Russell Group that student loans should be paid back sooner and at a higher interest rate, he said:
“The Student Loans Company has been heavily subsidised by taxpayers’ money since it was established.
“It is rather presumptuous for any universities to propose to make the term of student loans even more stringent.
“The fact is that the majority of young people leaving college are too heavily burdened with the millstone of student debt.
“I hope that the Minister for Employment and Learning at Stormont will refuse to have anything to do with these proposals which would make life more difficult for our young people and their families.”
