Under-fire Dempsey stands firm on fees plan

EDUCATION MINISTER Noel Dempsey is pressing ahead with his third-level fees plans, despite growing opposition from the Progressive Democrats and within Fianna Fáil.

The minister yesterday told the Cabinet he will bring forward proposals in the next fortnight arising from his review of third-level fees and grants. But the chances of the Government going ahead with the plan look increasingly unlikely as the Tánaiste warned her Coalition partners that springing proposals like this was not good for its stability.

Meanwhile, the Consumers’ Association of Ireland warned that families will have to remortgage their homes if third-level fees are reintroduced. Parents could be hit with bills in the region of €11,000 per child going to college, based only on minimum degree course fees of €4,000, maintenance and registration bills if the Government decides to bring back the fees that were abolished in 1995.