Third-level fee report will go to cabinet

A SPECIFIC recommendation on one of the options for charging third-level tuition fees — a loan system or some other way of funding higher education — will be included in a report to the cabinet early next year, Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe has said.

The minister yesterday also gave a commitment that the paper will be presented to his Government colleagues within four months, in which the various options will be presented.

However, the minister told the Irish Examiner he will include a recommendation on which option he believes should be implemented to help fund the country’s third and fourth level sectors.

Mr O’Keeffe has already expressed a personal opinion that those families who can afford it should pay tuition fees for their children, although he believes no family earning less than €130,000 should be included.

Another option being considered is a loan system, like that seen in Australia, where students have their tuition and maintenance paid by the State in the form of a loan which they begin paying back after they graduate and pass certain earnings thresholds.

However, the minister said Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes’ suggestion at the weekend of a graduate tax as an alternative to charging fees was a welcome contribution to the debate.

“It seems to be an acknowledgement that there has to be a student contribution and I welcome that. I have made it quite clear I’m available to listen to all opinions and If that opinion comes from opposition and if it’s logical and realistic, it’s something I will take into account,” he said.

Mr O’Keeffe said he is also close to announcing the terms of reference for a long-awaited higher education strategy, which will look at the funding and structures of the sector. He will discuss with officials who should be involved and he is anxious to have international experts on board, as well as representation of all opinions on the relevant issues.

Third level bosses have complained that per-student funding has not kept pace with inflation and increasing student numbers in recent years, but Mr O’Keeffe has rejected these claims and said that State funding has increased by one-third to €2 billion this year.

The university presidents have proposed a model under which the State would pay part of each student’s tuition fees and the remainder would be paid in the form of a loan, to be repaid up front or over a graduate’s working life.