Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabáil leis an gCeann Comhairle as ucht cead a thabhairt dom an t-ábhar seo a chur os comhair an Aire Stáit agus os comhair na Dála. Is ábhar an-tábhachtach é agus is mór an trua nach bhfuil an tAire féin anseo. Tá súil agam afach go mbeidh an tAire Stáit ábalta rud éigin a dhéanamh ar son na macléinn san Ollscoil.
I will not get into a rehash of the universities legislation nor the débâcle concerning the removal of fees. However, the Minister should intervene on behalf of students and their families with regard to the increase in fees imposed in University College, Dublin, I refer in particular to the repeat examination fees of £100 at UCD which are in stark contrast to many other universities. For example, there is no repeat examination fee in Dublin University, or Trinity as it is commonly known, while in Dublin Institute of Technology it is £25 and in NCAD £24. If we are trying to achieve equity within our third level institutions it is unfair for UCD to impose a fee of £100.
I cannot understand why the deferral fee has been introduced. Last year it was £30 in UCD but has now risen to £103. That is a huge jump amounting to an increase of almost 250 per cent which is totally unwarranted. The Minister should speak to the college authorities to see if that fee can be struck out. Many colleges do not have deferral fees which are a disincentive as well as an imposition on students. A request to defer an examination is usually made because of ill health or personal reasons.
The £50 late payment fee is seen as an unfair fine. Many students do not know when fees are expected so this late payment fee is unwarranted. In other universities and third level colleges the late payment fee is only £18 or £19 while in UCD it is £50.
While it may be unfair of me to pre-empt his reply, I assume the Minister of State will say that the Minister has no role in the day to day running of universities. I know, however, that the Higher Education Authority is concerned about the diversity of fees being imposed by universities and particularly in UCD.
Given that ordinary tuition fees have been removed, the Minister should ensure that universities do not try to create other forms of income on the backs of students, in particular with regard to repeat and deferral fees. Currently, there is a huge debate in UK universities about the lack of State funding. It is reminiscent of the rates support grants to county councils. I would not like inordinate expense imposed on young people at examination time.
Will the Minister put these points to the administrator and registrar in UCD? Many people are concerned about the matter. The students union has expressed concern to the college authorities. I hope the Minister can intervene on this occasion.