Quinn playing for time as hard decisions on funding remain

THE target of having almost three-quarters of people of school-leaving age attending third level by 2020 is ambitious.

But more so because of the related costs than for any other reason, given that interim targets have already been surpassed. With an estimated €500 million in additional funding needed annually to sustain that welcome growth in participation, the headache facing government is where to find the money.

Mr Quinn made pre-election commitments that Labour would oppose any return to tuition fees, in a campaign which saw Fine Gael propose a graduate taxation system, with repayment of some of their degree costs based on a person’s income levels.