Students' union urges action over college fees

THE UNION of Students of Ireland (USI) has taken a full-page advertisement in today's edition of The Irish Timescalling on students and their parents to lobby TDs against the reintroduction of third-level fees.

The advertisement details the names, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and constituencies of every TD in the State, along with what the union says is each politician’s position on the proposed reintroduction of fees.

The USI and its constituent unions in universities and colleges across the State spent six weeks surveying the 166 TDs. However, 40 per cent either did not respond or refused to state a position, despite having received letters and calls from union representatives, the USI said. The union was particularly disappointed by Independent Maureen O’Sullivan’s support for the reintroduction of fees.

All Labour and Sinn Féin TDs responded to the survey and all were opposed to fees, USI said. Mary White is the only Green Party TD who, the survey said, is in favour of fees. Ms White could not be contacted yesterday.

Fianna Fáil TDs were consistent in their refusal to respond. Twenty six of its TDs did not respond, 14 refused to take a position and others said they would take a position after they had consulted Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe.

Only nine, including Mr O’Keeffe, are listed as supporting the reintroduction of fees, but three – Charlie O’Connor, Michael Kennedy and Áine Brady – are listed as being opposed to fees. Of those three, only Mr O’Connor could be contacted. He said he would work within the party to try to stop the reintroduction, but said that unlike Sligo TDs Jimmy Devins and Eamon Scanlon, he would not disobey the party whip.

“I will be conveying to the Minister my views that fees should not be introduced, but I don’t see the Sligo option as the answer.”

Fine Gael TDs who responded are listed as saying they wanted fees after graduation. A party spokeswoman said this refers to its policy of a graduate levy, which would allow fees to be recouped through the taxation system. John Perry is listed as the only Fine Gael TD opposed to fees, but when contacted, he said he supported the levy proposal.

Ms O’Sullivan yesterday said it was not that she was in favour of fees, but that the system had to be changed. “The abolition of fees did not lead to an increase of participation rates of students from disadvantaged areas. A much fairer system would involve a better grant scheme for people with lower incomes.”

However, USI president Peter Mannion said Ms O’Sullivan’s response was disappointing. “I was shocked . . . given that she is representing a marginalised community.”