Students must wait for decision on college fees

STUDENTS could have to wait until the summer before knowing whether they face tuition fees for college next year.

Education Minister Noel Dempsey said the long-awaited review of student support schemes may take months to finalise.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern hinted at the reintroduction of third level fees at the weekend, but said afterwards that no decision was being made before the review group reported back to the minister.

Mr Dempsey ordered the review, which is assessing fees and grants, last autumn and had expected it to be completed by the end of last year and then last month. The delays have caused anger among students at second and third level, particularly this year’s Leaving Cert candidates applying to start college next autumn.

The wide scope of the review has caused further delays, said Mr Dempsey.

“I’ve had two predictions wrong at this stage but it will be out within the next few months,” he said.

“The review has broadened out to look at third level financing generally and ensuring those who are less well-off have a real chance of getting third level education,” he said.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) are examining foreign models of third-level funding, and how eligibility for maintenance grants might be amended under similar schemes here.

Around half the €350 million spent on student support each year by the Government covers the cost of most third level students’ tuition fees. Some college students could face annual charges of around €5,000 if they are required to cover their own fees.

The matter will be high on the agenda of the Union of Secondary Students (USS) when they meet Mr Dempsey tomorrow.

“We will take this opportunity to voice our complete opposition to the reintroduction of third level fees, we believe this plan is irrational and unpractical,” said USS spokesperson Emer Ní Chúagáin.

The Union of Students in Ireland wants the Taoiseach to clarify his position on fees. Last September, in the lead-up to the Nice Referendum, Mr Ahern indicated the Government did not intend to bring back fees.

USI president Colm Jordan said the Government’s Special Savings Investment Account scheme was costing €580m a year, over three times the burden of free fees on taxpayers.

He said the review was another waste of taxpayers’ money because a review on improving third level access was conducted for the Department of Education two years ago, but its 78 recommendations had yet to be fully implemented.