College staff’s children educated for free

Thousands of university staff, including senior lecturers and college heads who earn six-figure salaries, are entitled to have their children’s college fees paid by the State as a perk of the job.

Information gained from Irish universities shows that under the fee remission scheme, all full-time staff — from security guards to college presidents — who were given permanent contacts before Sept 30, 1992, are entitled to have their children educated for free.

In the vast majority of cases, this perk covers undergraduate registration fees and postgraduate fees which can cost up to €10,000.