Fine Gael welcomes Govt climb-down on third level fees

Noel Dempsey¹s U-turn on third level fees was welcomed today by Fine Gael education spokesperson Olwyn Enright TD, but she called on the Minister to deliver on his promises.

"I welcome the Minister¹s climb-down on third-level fees and am pleased to see that he has ended his solo-run. It will come as a massive relief to students and parents across the country.

"This Government¹s track record on education is a poor one and this is perhaps an opportunity for them to re-sit their exam.

"Noel Dempsey proposals to invest €42m in access programmes is a welcome first step from this Minister in tackling educational disadvantage. I am delighted to see that the Government finally saw sense and recognised the importance of Fine Gael¹s core value of free access to education.

"But given the cutbacks in recent years and the confusion over the schools building programme we will have to adopt a wait-and-see approach.

"There is no doubt that tackling educational disadvantage begins far earlier than at entry to third level. Rather it begins before primary school and needs to be developed right through the entire education system."