Mick Clifford: Government must raise its hand and admit who's to pay for third-level education

The announcement of the Funding The Future plan for third-level education promises a gradual decrease in the annual registration fee for college students. But without detail on how this will be funded, there is the fear that the cohort of society least likely to attend college will probably bear the cost for those who are most likely to attend.

The Funding The Future plan promises to reduce the annual registration fee for third-level students.
 

Who is going to pay for the increase in funding for third-level education? The truth that dares not speak its name among all political parties is that the cohort of society least likely to attend college will probably bear the cost for those who are most likely to attend.

On Wednesday, the Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris presented his Funding The Future plan. This will involve an immediate injection of €307m and the promise of a gradual decrease in the annual registration fee for students, which is currently €3,000.