asked the Minister for Education if his permission is sought by university authorities to increase student fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Student Fees.
19.
A decision by university authorities to increase student fees does not require my permission.
Would the Minister agree, having regard to the amount of taxpayers' money which goes to the universities now, that there would be justification for what was described many years ago as trespassing on the domain of the universities in respect of matters like these?
I do not think so. This matter went before the National Prices Commission a couple of years ago, and at that stage the National Prices Commission considered it was not a matter for them. The universities are as concerned as anybody else to see that the fees do not go beyond the means of parents who have to pay those fees or, indeed, of the State which has to pay them also. I would hope—and I will be putting this point when I meet them—that they would keep fee increases at as reasonable a level as possible. Of course, universities, like all other institutions and people in the country, suffer increases in cost and have to recoup them through fees.
The autonomy of the universities, having regard to the nature of their funding, was, up to some years ago, sacrosanct, but would the Minister accept that, in so far as they are now funded practically entirely out of taxpayers' money, he and the public should have a greater say in the administration of the universities and that money could be better employed than in turning out graduates who are not needed in society? Is it not time the Minister should become more involved?
That is a very big question which would need a great deal of debate in which the Deputy will have, hopefully some time this year, an opportunity to engage when I introduce the new legislation relating to universities.