Government under fire over speculation on student charges

RECENT speculation on education cutbacks and extra student charges have caused a raft of criticism for the Government, and the Green Party in particular.

The Irish Examiner reported last week that the Government is looking at significant increases in the €1,500 registration charge paid by third level students who do not qualify for maintenance grants. While some weekend reports suggest the fee could be doubled to €3,000, this was played down by one source close to the coalition yesterday, although Green Party representatives have insisted in recent days that no increase would be acceptable.

But higher education bosses backed some additional form of student contribution to help meet the shortfall in Government funding for third level education despite rising numbers. University College Cork president Dr Michael Murphy said services such as health supports, examination costs and sports facilities supposed to be covered by the registration fee cost far more than €1,500 per student, but he said any additional charge should not disadvantage less well-off students.

“I would be very concerned that if the processes aren’t put in place to protect those who are disadvantaged, that the people with the intellectual aptitude would lose out.

“We hope that if there is a plan to introduce higher fees, that there is at the same time, the means to protect those students,” he said.

Cork Institute of Technology president Dr Brendan Murphy said the argument has been made for many years that extra funding needs to come from somewhere other than the State, as colleges can not continue to accept more students with existing funding levels.

Sinn Féin education spokesperson Senator Pearse Doherty called on the Greens to stand up for students and oppose any increase in student service charges, which he described as little more than fees by stealth.

“The so-called promises obtained by the Green Party in relation to college fees will be seen as nothing more than lies, should the fee be further increased,” he said.

The report of the higher education strategy group chaired by Colm Hunt is expected to be published later this month and is almost certain to recommend a loan system under which graduates would repay the cost of their degrees after they start working. But a major rally in Dublin by the Union of Students in Ireland tomorrow is expected to attract thousands of marchers opposing any rise in existing charges or future introduction of fees in any form.

Meanwhile, the body representing Vocational Education Committees expressed concern at reports that a €500 annual fee could be introduced for students of post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses.

The Irish Vocational Education Association said any such charge would effectively tax employment opportunities and would particularly effect poorer students who do not qualify for grants.

Teacher unions also reacted angrily to weekend reports that promises in last year’s revised programme for government to protect class sizes could also be under threat because of rising student numbers and restrictions on cutting pay in the Croke Park public service agreement.