Madam, – DCU president Ferdinand von Prondzynski may be right in predicting the reintroduction of fees for third-level education (The Irish Times, July 8th). But let’s be clear on one point. Fees are not a magic get-out to save the Government from spending money. Fees can work only after a massive investment of cash into our hard-pressed colleges.
Imagine a run-down hotel charging five-star prices and promising to use the income to provide next year’s guests with en-suite facilities and plasma TVs. There would be few customers.
If fees are introduced without prior catch-up investment in buildings, books, computers, research and academic jobs, students will head for UK and US universities. And they may not come home again. – Yours, etc,
Prof GED MARTIN,
Shanacoole,
Co Waterford.