Dempsey refuses to rule out fees

EDUCATION Minister Noel Dempsey yesterday refused to rule out the reintroduction of college fees.

Mr Dempsey also admitted that the Government had not done enough to promote equality in the system after figures revealed 60 schools in largely deprived areas had a dropout rate of more than 50%.

Announcing the details of a major OECD review of the university sector, the Minister said: “Certainly the issue of funding of third level education is going to be an ongoing debate right into the future.”

OECD head of education and training Abrar Hasan said financing of third level education was one of the areas to be considered in its review.

“How third level education is resourced in terms of meeting the learning needs, the social needs and the needs of the economy will be a significant part of the study,” he said.

However, any suggestion of reintroducing fees could see renewed tensions between the Government partners. In May Progressive Democrat leader Mary Harney and party colleague Michael McDowell said they were against the reintroduction, forcing Mr Dempsey into an embarrassing climbdown.

The OECD review, which is expected to be completed within two years, will also compare the Irish system to other countries under numerous categories, including competitiveness, research and teaching.

Although the review was widely welcomed by representatives of the industrial and education sectors, including IBEC and the Council of Directors of the Institutes of Technology, there was concern among students.

Union of Students in Ireland president Will Priestly expressed surprise that Minister Dempsey seemed reluctant to rule out paying for third-level education.

“It certainly is disconcerting that he has left the gate open like this. We thought this was done and dusted,” he said.

Labour education spokeswoman Jan O’Sullivan said the party was opposed to moves to charge for tutoring in any aspect of third level education and expressed concern that Minister Dempsey might use the report as an excuse to withhold any initiatives aimed at improving access to university.

“I welcome the fact the OECD is to conduct a review of the third level education system but I hope the Minister will not defer any action on widening access to third level education in the short term.”