Third-level fees still on the agenda

Wednesday, 23-05-2012

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Third-level fees still on the agenda

THE reintroduction of third-level tuition fees remains on the cards despite speculation to the contrary yesterday. Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe will push ahead with plans to bring proposals to cabinet next year, under which those earning in excess of €120,000 may have to pay for their children's third-level tuition.

Reports suggested the tuition fees proposal would be ditched because the cabinet was separately considering a budget day increase in registration fees for third-level students.

Registration fees cover registration and student services, as opposed to tuition, and are about €900 a year.

The reports suggested that because the cabinet could raise extra revenue by increasing the registration fees, it would not reintroduce tuition fees, as this would effectively be a double whammy on some parents.

But Department of Education sources insisted that Mr O'Keeffe would be pushing ahead with an examination of the tuition fees issue, and remains set to bring proposals to cabinet next year.

Meanwhile, the opposition reacted furiously to the suggestions registration fees would be increased.

Labour education spokesman Ruairi Quinn said a rise in registration fees was effectively a way of introducing tuition fees "by the back door".

"Any increase in registration charges would hit students and their families hard at a time when money is tight," he said. "Parents of students already have to pay large sums to cover books and living expenses."

Such an increase would demonstrate that the Government was "breaking its promises" on education.

"The money raised will not make our universities better. This increase will barely soften the even bigger cutbacks I'm expecting in the education budget next week. It's nothing more than a revenue generating scam," Mr Quinn said.

Sinn Féin education spokesman Pearse Doherty echoed those comments.

"The abolition of fees in the mid-1990s was a progressive move, but has been fundamentally undermined by successive Fianna Fáil-led governments who have failed to invest the economic boom into the country's future," he said.

The department last night refused to confirm or deny an increase in registration fees was being planned, saying it could not comment before budget day.

The cabinet meets again today in an effort to finalise the budget package.