Third level students and their families are today demonstrating outside the Dáil at proposed cuts in the Back To Education Allowance.
In the recent Budget Estimates the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Mary Coughlan, announced the eligibility rules for the scheme would be tightened from six months unemployed to 15 months unemployed.
A number of student representatives have condemned the move as "outrageous", claiming the Government was cutting back on vital systems of support for students returning to education.
UCD students availing of the scheme and their families will today be joined by Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) students and members of CORI (Conference of Religious of Ireland) in their protest.
UCD's student union president Mr Paul Dillon said: "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."
It is unclear how many people would be affected by the changes in the eligibility rules. Some 4,431 people claimed the allowance in 2001/2002.
