FG wants college graduates to pay taxes instead of fees

COLLEGE graduates could be asked to pay extra taxes instead of being charged fees by a future Fine Gael government.

Outlined in a policy proposal from the party’s education spokesperson Brian Hayes, he suggests anybody with a third-level degree would pay increased PRSI contributions over a period of up to 10 years after graduation.

While such a scheme would in ways be similar to the fees-loan system that is among the options being considered by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe, Mr Hayes said the differences would be that everyone would pay the same amount regardless of their qualification and his proposal would be less of a deterrent to poorer people entering higher education.