third level fees

national | miscellaneous | news report

Thursday April 17, 2003 18:50

by Gaz - cfe - campaign for free education

demsey still kite flying

Dempsey reuses to give clear statement on the return of third level fees.

The Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, has deferred once again a decision on the controversial reintroduction of third-level fees.

The Irish Times has learned that the Minister is now considering introducing an "interim measure" on fees in September until a final decision on the issue is reached.

The failure of the Minister to meet a talked-of Easter decision-making deadline illustrates divisions at Cabinet over the matter, where both Progressive Democrats and Fianna Fáil Ministers have opposed his plans.

The Minister has repeatedly made clear his personal conviction that he believes fees must come back in a rebalancing of spending priorities.

With education likely to dominate the headlines next week during the Easter teacher union conferences he spoke forcefully again on the issue in a heated debate at the Historical Society in Trinity College last night.

However, yesterday the PD leader and Tánaiste, Ms Harney, reiterated her opposition in the Dáil to the reintroduction of fees. Facing questions from the Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, the Tánaiste acknowledged that the Progressive Democrats were opposed.

"Access to, and the availability of, a good education is essential for young people. We all share that view. I have no doubt that that will be foremost in the mind of the Minister for Education and Science when he brings the proposals to the Cabinet shortly," she said.

Insisting that opinion on the plan was not dividing on party lines, one senior source later told The Irish Times: "I don't think the Minister has got all of Fianna Fáil behind him on this one, let alone the Progressive Democrats."

The Minister set up a review group to look into the issue last year. He had originally promised a decision on fees in November, then pushed that forward to the end of January.

In January he said the review group looking at the issue would not be finished their work until "in or around Easter". Asked if there was a deadline for the review group, a spokeswoman for the Minister said last night that this was impossible, adding: "How long is a piece of string?'

She insisted that the delay had nothing to do with any conflict between the Minister and Ms Harney over fees.

The president of the TCD Students' Union, Mr Will Priestly, argued last night that the 90 per cent increase in the registration fee last summer went to a direct Government cutback, rather than a reinvestment in other third-level projects.

Meanwhile, it has been learned that the Union of Students in Ireland is considering High Court action against the Minister, should he reintroduce fees.

The USI said the Government was already acting "unlawfully" in increasing the college registration fee and slashing the Back to Education Allowance. The union is seeking legal advice on the matter.

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