Shameful hike in registration fees

SURELY one of the most shameful outcomes of the budget is the huge increase in third-level registration fees.

Since coming to power almost a year ago, this Government has made a number of efforts to reintroduce tuition fees for university and college courses.

This enormous increase in the college registration fee underlines the Government’s determination to make third-level education a privilege for the well-off.

For hard-working families, college fees of any kind are a blatant form of double taxation. What makes this worse is that registration fees are not subject to any form of tax relief.

The Government is totally out of touch with the reality of the day-to-day lives of ordinary people.

For many families, college is not affordable as it stands. With the cost of living, accommodation, textbooks, etc, it could cost a family €8,000-€10,000 per annum to send a child to college.

I am angry that this increase will yet again hit those on the margins of society most, and it sends out the wrong message to our young people.

Education has to be for all, regardless of means. Money should not be an issue, much less a barrier.

Education is an investment in our future. From the budget and Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe’s crusade to reintroduce tuition fees, it is clear the Government is not prepared to make that investment.

Senator Michael McCarthy

Castle Street

Dunmanway

Co Cork