UCD Students' Union has recorded a record 400% increase in students seeking assistance who are experiencing financial hardship.

The figure comes at a time when the Government are seeking to introduce college fees of up to €3,000 per student from September.

UCD SU President Paul Lynam said "The number of students seeking assistance from the Students' Union is unprecedented and getting worse with each day."

"If fees of over €3000 are introduced in Decembers budget we can guarantee many UCD students will not be returning next year to continue their education."

"According to recent figures from Bank of Ireland it costs €44k to complete a standard degree course, but when you consider that €24k is the absolute maximum level of assistance which the grant provides a student living away from home over 4 years, it leaves the student facing a shortfall of €20k over the duration of their course."

"The Government will effectively end the education prospects for thousands of students with the reintroduction third level fees."

"Estimates put the Irish national debt at over €90 billion and it is our generation that will be left footing the bill for many years to come."

"The Government will see the anger and pain that young people are experiencing when students from all across the country march in Dublin city centre on Wednesday afternoon."

"Over 5000 students from UCD are joining students from all over Ireland to protest at the proposed reintroduction of fees, proposed cuts the maintenance grant and the huge levels of graduate unemployment."

SU President Lynam added "The Government are sorely mistaken if they feel they can slash and burn their way through the education sector while we stand aside."

"The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is targeting 72% access from second level education to third level by 2020 and this target is mere fantasy if the Government introduces fees for third level."