€3,000 levy is a barrier to a college education

Comedian Brendan O’Carroll, who was recently named ‘philanthropist of the year,’ said that “schooling should be free”. 

In saying this, Brendan has endorsed the progressive actions of Donogh O’Malley and Niamh Bhreathnach, former ministers for education, who introduced free second-level and free third-level education, respectively.

But the ink was hardly dry on the free-fees initiative when the third-level sector introduced a student levy for registration, examinations and services.

Successive ministers for education have increased this levy to a prohibitive €3,000.

Former minister for education, Ruairi Quinn, signed a Union of Students in Ireland (USI) pledge before the last election, that his party, in government, would retain the student services charge at €1,500. He backtracked on this pledge once in power.

With the green shoots of economic recovery emerging, the new Minister for Education, Jan O’Sullivan, can abolish the €3,000 levy. Minister O’Sullivan has an opportunity to make a contribution as significant as O’Malley’s and Bhreathnach’s.

Billy Ryle

Spa

Tralee

County Kerry