Government must get its act together

WHEN the smoke clears in the row over college fees Education Minister Noel Dempsey is expected to shift his ground, abandon the controversial proposal to make the rich pay for third-level education and opt instead for a loan scheme under which students would learn now and pay later.

This scenario is extremely plausible because, despite the Taoiseach's support for his beleaguered minister, Mr Dempsey may yet be forced to defuse the bitter feud which threatens to undermine the once cosy coalition arrangement between the PDs and Fianna Fáil.

As the row rolled on in the Dáil yesterday there was a marked absence of PD ministers from the Government benches, a reflection of the party's opposition to the concept of middle-class supporters paying college fees.

Following trenchant criticism of the Dempsey plan by Tánaiste Mary Harney and Justice Minister Michael McDowell, the party's chief whip, Liz O'Donnell accused Fianna Fáil of ignoring partnership mechanisms designed to ease tensions within Government.

Ironically, the issue has also split Fianna Fáil down the middle, dividing rural and urban deputies on ideological grounds. And it has provided the Opposition with a rare opportunity to put the boot into an administration now clearly in disarray.

So far, according to Ms O'Donnell, not a scrap of paper has been seen from the Education Minister, who is still awaiting the results of a review of educational spending.

However, Mr Dempsey is on record as saying the Australian loan system would make students independent of their parents, who would not be lumbered with debt for their children's education.

Having been forced to abandon an earlier bid to abolish the dual mandate, Mr Dempsey is now flying an ill-conceived kite on the question of fees. It would be equally rash to plunge headlong into a loan system that is causing difficulties in other countries. It has led to a costly brain drain in Australia and New Zealand as graduates leave specifically to avoid repaying their loans.

The Irish situation mirrors the scenario in New Zealand over a decade ago when politicians argued it would improve access to third-level education for

everyone, including disadvantaged groups. Universally unpopular with students, however, it is moot whether the concept has worked.

The average debt accumulated during a three-year college degree is the equivalent of 10,500 and it can take up to 20 years for someone on an average wage to pay it off. In 2001, a New Zealand government report found that administering the scheme was costing over €13m a year.

Last year in Britain, graduates left university with average debts of nearly £11,000 (15,000), a dramatic rise on previous years. With graduate salaries suffering an unexpected fall, former students are now struggling to clear their debts.

If the Coalition is serious about tackling educational disadvantage it should get its act together and formulate realistic and workable proposals.

With 60,000 students in the throes of preparing for Leaving Certificate exams, it is unacceptable that families, who have already made their financial plans on the basis of a no-fee system, should now be plunged into uncertainty.

There can be no confidence that this Government will exclude PAYE citizens from a scheme aimed at taxing the rich. There is an urgent need to end the growing confusion caused by Mr Dempsey's solo run on the reintroduction of college fees. The Government should get its act together.