CABINET DISCUSSIONS on the possible return of third-level fees are continuing, despite moves to increase student registration charges.
The Irish Timesreported yesterday that the Government has decided on a dramatic increase in the student registration charge; the maximum charge at present is €980. Education sources say Cabinet consideration of the wider issue of third-level tuition fees is also continuing.
Minister for Education, Batt O'Keeffe - who strongly supports third-level fees for the better off - is examining a report from the Higher Education Authority which gives detailed projections on the revenue which the return of charges would generate.
It is thought the HEA report says at least €50 million could be raised - even from a fees regime with a very high income threshold. The Minister has signalled he will not consider the imposition of fees on any households with an income of less than €120,000 per year.
The Department of Education is also examining the Australian student loan regime. University presidents favour the introduction of a similar scheme but the Minister is thought not to be enthusiastic.
The Government will shortly announce the list of members of an expert review group to build a new National Strategy on Higher Education. The report of this group, expected late next year, will also consider the wider question of third-level funding.
The decision to increase registration charges has been criticised by both the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and the Opposition, who believe it is a cynical attempt by the Government to plug a financial hole in the education sector.
USI president Shane Kelly said increasing the charge would be a complete reversion of everything Mr O'Keeffe has been saying since he reopened the debate on tuition fees. "He wanted a debate on how the fees would be handled and now that he's not getting the response he wants he appears to have decided to circumvent the debate, the colleges and the students by moving to increase the registration fee instead," he said.
Mr Kelly said the move shows the Minister is not interested in making sure that everyone with the ability to go to college can go on and fulfil their potential.
"This [increase] would only serve to make it harder for those families already struggling to meet the costs of third level."
Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes said the increase would be a ridiculous attempt to generate extra money for the coffers of the education sector.
"Now that there is a financial hole in the sector they should not try to plug it by doing this, because at the end of the day the people who would have to face these higher registration [costs] would be parents," he said.
Mr Hayes said whatever funding arrangement the department does come up with will be a failure unless it is "allied to genuine reform" of the sector, which he believes should focus on the student experience and improving the quality and output of third level institutions.
Labour Party education spokesman Ruairí Quinn said the increase was nothing more than a revenue-generating scam.
"The increase shows that the Government is breaking its promises on education. The money raised will not make our universities better. This increase will barely soften the even bigger cutbacks I'm expecting in the education budget next week," he said.
Mr Quinn said having to find extra money to cover the costs would place extra financial pressure on students at a difficult economic time.
"Instead of studying, they will have to work harder in part-time jobs and struggle to make ends meet."