Students are planning a national protest calling for more funding for higher education.

They say a loans system for students isn’t a viable option and would leave people more than €20,000 in debt.

Around 5,000 people are expected at the protest in Dublin on October 19th.

USI President Annie Hoey says the government needs to take education seriously: “44 times in the Dáil during the Apple debate they referenced our higher education system and that is why they are coming here.

“So what we want to see is obviously for politicians to put their money where their mouth is.

“Don’t say multi national companies are coming here for our higher educdation system and then have the gall not to invest in it.