Students fight campaign for fees

PROPER Government funding rather than a return to fees is the only way to improve third and fourth level education, rather than a return to college fees, students claimed last night.

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) was reacting to a planned lobbying campaign by the seven universities through the Irish Universities Association (IUA), which is preparing a submission to Government seeking either tuition fees or a loan system to make up for a shortfall in funding Government for teaching undergraduate courses.

Trinity College Dublin provost Dr John Hegarty said this week that an extra €120 million each year is needed to help the universities keep up with the world’s best, on top of the current level of €780m.

USI president Richard Morrisroe said any fee element, even in the form of student loans, would have a negative effect on numbers going to college.

“The Department of Education would simply reduce current spending levels for third level and colleges would be back in the same position they’re in now,” he said.

Unlike second level, the Programme for Government only promises extra capital budgets for the third level sector.

However, a spokesperson for Education Minister Mary Hanafin said last night there are no plans to reintroduce college tuition fees.

IUA chief executive Ned Costello said the debate on increased exchequer funding or other sources needs to be reopened because the quality of learning is in danger of falling behind.

“Our day-to-day funding was effectively frozen for a number of years but the increases we’ve received in recent years have not taken account of above-inflation wage increases, spiralling insurance costs and rising student numbers,” he said.

“Undergraduates are being taught in overcrowded lecture halls and science buildings that haven’t been upgraded since the 1970s,” Mr Costello said.

UCC students union president Kris McElhinney, said lessons should be learned from Britain, where top-up fees, introduced last year, have led to reduced government funding in colleges.