Madam, – We have a universally acknowledged need to produce more graduates. So our Minister for Education proposes a financial disincentive of €5,000-plus per annum for those wishing to attend third-level education.
After decades of emigration, we had just managed to stem this wasteful exodus from our nation. Now our Minister proposes to provide a huge financial incentive for graduates to leave our country and not return – loan repayments.
We impose financial charges (for example for refuse collection) as an instrument to discourage usage. Yet we are expected to suspend our disbelief when the Minister says re-imposing fees will not discourage participation in Higher Education. Joined up thinking? – Yours, etc,