asked the Minister for Education the percentage increase in regional technical college course fees in the last ten years; and the justification for these increases.
Written Answers. - Regional Technical College Fees.
253.
In the past eight years vocational education committees have been informed that financial allocations would be made on the basis of the following increases in fees:
|
Year |
Increase |
|
1977/78 |
(no increase) |
|
1978/79 |
(no increase) |
|
1979/80 |
25% |
|
1980/81 |
16% |
|
1981/82 |
30% |
|
1982/83 |
25% |
|
1983/84 |
100% |
|
1984/85 |
15% |
|
1985/86 |
10% |
|
1986/87 |
16.7% |
|
(average) |
These increases are considered to be justified as follows: (a) the low base on which the increases were calculated, (b) the low level of fees compared with fees in other third level institutions, (c) the small proportion of the cost of running the colleges which is met by fee income, (d) the increase in grants and income eligability levels.