Labour seeks clarification of college fees reports

The Labour Party has called on Education Minister Noel Dempsey to state whether or not he intends to reintroduce third-level student fees.

Party spokesman Eamon Gilmore said such a move would impact on the number of students who can afford to go to college.

He said it would be nothing short of a tax on third-level education "designed to raise money for a Government that has made a mess of the economy".

Mr Gilmore also said the timing of the proposal, which was revealed in weekend newspaper reports, is particularly wrong, with students getting their college offers from the Central Applications Office this week.

"Students will be making decisions about third-level courses they will study and the last thing they need now is the prospect that if they embark on a four or five-year course, that next year or the year after that, the Government may introduce student fees," he said.