asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware of the hardship caused to numerous students and parents by the announcement of university fees increases; whether he is aware that students of lower-income groups will be debarred from university education as a result of these increases; and whether the Department has any plans to avert this.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - University Fees.
24.
I desire to refer the Deputy to my statements in relation to this matter which were made in this House on the 15th and 28th April, 1970. From these statements it will be seen that grant holders will be compensated for any increase in fees and that in relation to all students the increase in the case of the higher fee faculties may be limited to £10.
Did the Minister say in the case of all students?
I said the higher fee faculties might be limited to £10.
What faculties does the Minister mean by the higher fee faculties?
I do not want to specify what they are. I mentioned some of them to the universities.
Is this a matter for negotiation?
No, the universities will know themselves what the high fee faculties are.
The Minister is aware that in general the increase in fees has put university education beyond the reach of a number of people. Is the Minister aware that in our universities there has been an increase in the number of students who are financing themselves through college and that such students, mainly coming from working class backgrounds, will be penalised as a result of these increases?
I am sure the Deputy is aware of the fact—as I said in my reply to the debate on the Estimate for my Department—that I am ensuring that all who reach the level of post-primary education at which they are likely to benefit from university education will be adequately catered for. I am concerning myself particularly with the students who are receiving grants.
Is the Minister aware that by reducing the fee increase in the higher fee faculties to £10 he will, in fact, be reducing it to less than the absolute amount of the increase in other faculties? Is this his intention?
My intention is clear. I have increased the fees in general by 25 per cent and I am limiting the increase in the higher fee faculities to £10.
Will the Minister not agree that he has not increased any fees and has no power to do so? What he has done is (a) made a request to the universities not to increase their fees and (b) suggested that they should increase them. Could he state with regard to this provision has he had consultations with the universities about its implementation, and is it proposed that the universities should not increase the fees in these faculties by more than £10, or does he expect them to increase them and he will then provide a refund of part of the amount?
I have clearly stated for the information of the universities what in fact my position is. I have let them know that in so far as the higher fee faculties are concerned I am limiting the increase to £10.
Does the Minister not accept that he has no power——
We cannot debate this question.
The question at issue is: is he proposing to the universities that they should limit the increase to £10 and that he will provide them by next October with the amount of money which they will not get by virtue of that limitation compared with what they would have got if the increase were 25 per cent, or is he proposing to provide them with funds to refund to students part of the 25 per cent increase to take place in all faculties? I can tell the Minister the universities do not know what he intends.
I presumed that the universities would deal intelligently with this.
Has Minister had any meeting with the Union of Students on this whole matter?
In relation to the increase, yes I have.
May I ask the Minister finally——
I am calling question No. 25.
The Minister has not replied.
The Deputy will please resume his seat. I should like to point out that we have 125 questions on the Order Paper.
And a meeting at 5 o'clock.
Deputies who have questions far down on the Order Paper will not receive answers this week. It is the duty of the Chair to look after these Deputies just as much as it is to look after Deputy FitzGerald.
They want to get some tea before 5 o'clock.
The Minister has not replied.
Question No. 25.
I will raise it on the Adjournment.