Abandonment of fees plan welcomed

NOEL DEMPSEY’S plan to reintroduce third level fees was a badly managed attempt to raise extra revenue, opposition parties said yesterday.

Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte said disadvantaged students would never have benefited from the money saved and welcomed the abandonment of the Education Minister’s plans.

“This will be good news for tens of thousands of students who are due to sit the

Leaving Certificate in 10 days’ time and who have been subjected to totally unnecessary pressure as a result of the minister’s kite-flying exercise,” he said.

Mr Rabbitte said the €42 million fund for disadvantaged students was a welcome step but added that it was the price of keeping Mr Dempsey in Cabinet. “This whole controversy has been badly handled by the Government. Ireland must be the only country where a minister could fail to carry such a major issue and remain in Cabinet.”

Fine Gael’s Education spokeswoman Olwyn Enright said she welcomed Mr Dempsey’s U-turn on third level fees and the €42m fund to improve access for disadvantaged students. “But given the cutbacks in recent years and the confusion over the schools building programme, we will have to adopt a wait-and-see approach.

“There is no doubt that tackling educational disadvantage begins far earlier than at entry to third level. Rather, it begins before primary school and needs to be developed right through the entire education system.”

Although the Green Party also welcomed the abandonment of the fees plan, it said the announcement, and its timing, was “a panicked face-saving exercise”.

“Holding a press conference on a Sunday to announce this new education package, highlights the Government’s sense of panic over the controversy. Bertie Ahern has shown a distinct lack of leadership throughout and allowed the PD tail to wag the dog,” Trevor Sargent TD said.

Student representative bodies, however, were pleased with the announcement.

The Union of Students in Ireland said the Government had finally taken on board many of its suggestions by ruling out third level fees and increasing the maintenance grant.

Trinity College Students’ Union said the increase in maintenance grants would make third level more accessible.

“We are now moving further towards the ideal situation whereby all students will be able to attend college regardless of their financial standing,” deputy president of Trinity SU Gareth Makim said.