Can kicked down road far too often...Funding third-level education

THE 11-person group set up by former education minister Quinn to consider options for funding third-level education is expected to report to Government before the end of the year.

The options the group might propose are not infinite and are likely to include a combination of public and private funding, possibly augmented by a student loan scheme or a new graduate tax. No matter what is suggested, it would be surprising if its proposals were not opposed vociferously by one lobby group or another. This is a red line, a terribly divisive issue. The pressing need to finalise a policy has been ignored time and time again, much to the detriment of our third-level institutions and their students — and the society they serve.

The electoral cycle means the hard decisions around these hard choices presented through the report will fall to the next Government. However, if the election is called before a report is published, all parties will kick to touch on the issue and the electorate, not for the first or last time, will be asked to buy a pig in a poke on the touchstone issue.