AMLÉ President Bryan O’Mahony has released the organisation’s pre-budget submission. The document, which has already been sent to legislators and each government department, is below.
UTF-8'' Amle Pre-Budget Submission 2025 (V1)
As President of Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ), I am honoured to present our Pre-Budget Submission for the coming year. This document is not just a collection of policy recommendations—it is a reflection of the real, lived experiences of students across Ireland. It is a call to action, urging the government to address the growing challenges that threaten the right to education for thousands of learners.
In recent years, the difficulties facing students have intensified to an unprecedented degree. The severe lack of affordable, safe, and accessible accommodation has left many in a state of constant uncertainty. Students are being forced to choose between continuing their education or securing basic living conditions—an impossible and unjust choice.
The situation is compounded by the rising cost of travel, particularly for students who must commute long distances due to the housing crisis. Public transport remains insufficient, expensive, and, in many areas, entirely unavailable—adding further financial and emotional strain. On top of this, Ireland continues to impose some of the highest third-level tuition fees in the EU, a barrier that excludes many capable students from the opportunities they deserve.
These are not isolated challenges. They are interlinked crises that demand an urgent, coordinated response.
These issues go beyond the individual. They threaten our national ambition for a fair, inclusive, and knowledge-driven society. When we fail to support students, we fail to invest in Ireland’s future.
In this submission, AMLÉ calls on the government to act decisively and invest in the following areas:
- A major expansion of affordable, purpose-built student accommodation, supported by public investment and regulated to ensure fair rents and quality standards.
- A national overhaul of public transport for students, including more extensive routes, lower fares, and greater investment in rural connectivity.
- A meaningful reduction in tuition fees, alongside a substantial increase in student financial supports, to ensure equitable access to education for all.
These are not unreasonable demands. They are essential steps toward protecting the right to education, tackling inequality, and unlocking the full potential of Ireland’s future workforce and leaders.
Students are ready to contribute to a better, stronger Ireland. But we need the government to meet us with equal commitment. We urge our leaders to recognise the urgency of this moment—and to deliver a Budget that puts students first.
Together, we can ensure that no student is left behind.
Bryan O’Mahony, AMLÉ President 25/26
Mar Uachtarán Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ), is mór an onóir dom ár n-Aighneacht Réamhbhuiséid don bhliain atá le teacht a chur i láthair. Ní bailiúchán moltaí beartais amháin atá sa cháipéis seo—is léiriú é ar thaithí fhíor, shaoil na mac léinn ar fud na hÉireann. Is glao chun gnímh é seo, ag áiteamh ar an rialtas aghaidh a thabhairt ar na dúshláin atá ag dul i méid a bhagraíonn ceart na mílte foghlaimeoirí chun oideachais.
Le blianta beaga anuas, tá na deacrachtaí atá roimh mhic léinn tar éis dul in olcas go pointe nach bhfacthas a leithéid riamh roimhe. Tá go leor daoine fágtha i riocht éiginnteachta leanúnaí mar gheall ar an easpa mhór cóiríochta inacmhainne, sábháilte agus inrochtana. Tá iallach ar mhic léinn rogha a dhéanamh idir leanúint lena gcuid oideachais nó dálaí maireachtála bunúsacha a fháil—rogha dodhéanta agus éagórach.
Tá an scéal níos measa fós de bharr costas méadaitheach taistil, go háirithe do mhic léinn a chaithfidh taisteal achair fhada mar gheall ar an ngéarchéim tithíochta. Tá iompar poiblí fós neamhleor, costasach, agus, i go leor ceantar, níl sé ar fáil ar chor ar bith—rud a chuireann brú airgeadais agus mothúchánach leis. Ar a bharr sin, leanann Éire de bheith ag gearradh cuid de na táillí teagaisc tríú leibhéal is airde san AE, bacainn a fhágann go bhfuil go leor mac léinn cumasacha as an áireamh ó na deiseanna atá tuillte acu.
Ní dúshláin aonraithe iad seo. Is géarchéimeanna idirnasctha iad a éilíonn freagairt phráinneach, chomhordaithe.
Téann na saincheisteanna seo níos faide ná an duine aonair. Déanann siad bagairt ar ár n-uaillmhian náisiúnta i leith sochaí chóir, chuimsitheach agus eolasbhunaithe. Nuair a theipeann orainn tacú le mic léinn, teipeann orainn infheistíocht a dhéanamh i dtodhchaí na hÉireann.
San aighneacht seo, iarrann AMLÉ ar an rialtas gníomhú go cinntitheach agus infheistíocht a dhéanamh sna réimsí seo a leanas:
- Leathnú mór ar chóiríocht mac léinn inacmhainne, atá tógtha chun na críche sin, agus tacaítear léi le hinfheistíocht phoiblí agus rialáilte chun cíosanna cothroma agus caighdeáin cháilíochta a chinntiú.
- Athchóiriú náisiúnta ar iompar poiblí do mhic léinn, lena n-áirítear bealaí níos fairsinge, táillí níos ísle, agus infheistíocht níos mó i nascacht tuaithe.
- Laghdú suntasach ar tháillí teagaisc, mar aon le méadú suntasach ar thacaíochtaí airgeadais do mhic léinn, chun rochtain chothrom ar oideachas a chinntiú do chách.
Ní héilimh mhíréasúnta iad seo. Is céimeanna riachtanacha iad i dtreo an ceart chun oideachais a chosaint, dul i ngleic leis an neamhionannas, agus lánacmhainneacht lucht saothair agus cheannairí na hÉireann amach anseo a scaoileadh saor.
Tá mic léinn réidh le cur le hÉirinn níos fearr agus níos láidre. Ach ní mór dúinn go mbeadh an rialtas ag freastal orainn leis an tiomantas céanna. Impímid ar ár gceannairí práinn na huaire seo a aithint—agus Buiséad a sheachadadh a chuireann na daltaí chun tosaigh.
Le chéile, is féidir linn a chinntiú nach bhfágtar aon mhac léinn ar gcúl.
Bryan O’Mahony, Uachtarán AMLÉ 25/26