THE GREEN Party gave an indication last night that it could support the introduction of a student loans scheme in place of the present system of free third-level fees.
Interviewed on RTÉ Television’s The Week in Politics, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan was asked if he would be comfortable with a student loans scheme, given his party’s previous opposition to the ending of free fees.
“I would be comfortable with something which firstly doesn’t discourage people who can’t afford to [from] not going to college. I’d be comfortable with something that actually gives our colleges a sense of a direction for the future, how they are going to be funded.,” the Minister said.But he added that, “We have to sit down and look at the various options”.
The loans plan is one of a number of options in a paper prepared for the Government by the Department of Education. It is the one said to be most strongly favoured by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe.
The Greens are holding a special conference next Saturday to discuss the party’s position on the Lisbon referendum and the forthcoming review of the Programme for Government.
Fine Gael Education Spokesman, Brian Hayes TD, called for the discussion paper on fees to be published. “Students, parents and the Higher Education Sector have a right see this document without delay.”