MINISTER FOR Education Batt O’Keeffe’s report on third-level fees is in its final stages of preparation but the college fees issue is unlikely to be addressed in the forthcoming emergency budget.
Mr O’Keeffe, who was attending the launch yesterday of a school-building project at Banagher, Co Offaly, told reporters any changes on fees would be “family-proofed”.
“I’m finalising that report at the present time. We’re looking at fees, we’re looking at a loans system, we’re looking at other mechanisms, we’re looking maybe at a combination of both, and I’ll be making a recommendation to Cabinet,” he said.
Asked if the report would be ready in time for the emergency budget on April 7th, he replied: “It’s too early to say but I’m trying to bring my report to a conclusion.”
Explaining that the proposed measures would be “family-proofed” in the interests of fairness, he continued: “I’d like us as a Government to family-proof whatever measures we are taking to make sure that all of the onus doesn’t fall on particular sectors of society and this is obviously an important entity and I’d like to see that into the system if I can.”
Pressed as to when the report would be completed, he said: “I’m hoping to finish it as soon as I can. I don’t want to put a definitive date.”
Noting that the level of participation by school-leavers in third-level education had risen dramatically, he said: “You must understand that the number of students in the third-level sector has grown from 35 per cent to now a participation rate of 55 per cent; to 2020 we’re looking at a participation rate of 70 per cent at third level and obviously that’s going to have implications for the exchequer.”
Commenting on the reaction from other parts of the third-level sector on the new research arrangement between University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin, Mr O’Keeffe said: “The response has been much more muted now that they have seen the full facts of what has happened.”
Asked if it was a “civil war” situation, he said: “It certainly isn’t. I’ve spoken to the other presidents and indicated to them that there is no question of that happening.”
Taoiseach Brian Cowen, who was also at the ceremony in Banagher’s Coláiste na Sionna, was asked about the possible return of fees. Mr Cowen replied: “I’m not speculating on any particular proposals. Those are matters for consideration by Government over the coming weeks. “When the budget is out, everyone can have a discussion about it then, that’s the most constructive thing to say about it.”
Meanwhile, the organisation representing institutes of technology has warned that the reintroduction of third-level fees could send students north of the Border to save costs on education.
Michael Carmody, chairman of Institutes of Technology Ireland and president of IT Tralee, appeared before the Oireachtas education committee yesterday to discuss the possibility of fees being reintroduced.
“The institutes are particularly concerned that the formal reintroduction of undergraduate tuition fees could have serious negative repercussions for the sector and for those wishing to attain third-level qualifications,” Mr Carmody said.
“For example, there could be a significant migration of students and revenue from Border areas in particular to Northern Ireland and the [rest of the] UK if fee differentials encouraged this.”