Vol. 432 No. 1
7 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education if she has had a meeting with the Presidents of the Universities to discuss the proposed increase of eight per cent in university fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
9 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Education if she will instruct the universities not to charge the proposed £70 fee for matriculation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
71 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Education if she will instruct universities to abandon their proposals to charge a £70 fee for matriculation in view of the fact that the matriculation examination has been abolished and that this fee acts as a further barrier to third level entry for students from low income families.
97 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education the third level institutions that have applied for sanction to increase fees and the increase sought in each case; if she has had any consultation with the Higher Education Authority or the heads of universities about the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2, 9, 71 and 97 together.
While I have had no meeting with the Presidents of the University or the Higher Education Authority, discussions are ongoing between my Department, the heads of the universities and the Higher Education Authority about fee levels in the universities for the coming academic year. In these circumstances it would be inappropriate for me to make any further statement on the matter for the present.
The £70 fee referred to by Deputies Quill and McDowell relates to students wishing to attend courses at the constituent or recognised colleges of the National University of Ireland.
The term "matriculated student" appears in the Irish Universities Act, 1908, the Charter of the National University of Ireland and Statute Number I of the university. Students must ordinarily be matriculated students to be awarded degrees by the university. Up to last year, when the matriculation examination of the NUI was discontinued, prospective students of that university could matriculate either by taking the examination or on the basis of specific performance in the leaving certificate or other acceptable examination. Fees have always been payable to the NUI for sitting the examination or for matriculating on the basis of other examinations. While, as I have said, the matriculation examination has been discontinued the process of matriculation and the associated fee remain and are requirements of the university. Under its legal charter the NUI has the legal authority "to demand and receive such fees as the Senate may from time to time appoint". The university in this, as in many other matters, is autonomous and the Minister for Education does not have the power or authority to issue instructions to the university in such matters. The NUI received a statutory grant of £10,000 a year from the Exchequer under the provisions of the Irish Universities Act 1908 and the remainder of its financial requirements must come from various fees and charges including the matriculation fee.
Does the Minister not accept that the last section of society that should be burdened with any increase in fees, particularly an 8 per cent increase, is the hard pressed PAYE sector, the majority of whom do not get higher education grants? Is the Minister not aware that the basic problem relates to money and that over the years in the various Government programmes a central feature was the increased number of studnets in third level education? This massive explosion in numbers has put enormous pressure on universities who simply cannot cater for the demand without the resources to do so. Last year on the capital side for building and maintenance the universities had to endure a cut of 27 per cent, or £6 million.
It would not be helpful to comment on the announcement by the universities that they would raise their fees by 8 per cent although I am concerned about the plight of the PAYE worker and student. I announced in the House last month the setting up of a committee, which I hope will report to me within the year, to study the implications of the changes in the grants scheme put in place in 1992. I share the Deputy's concern about the ability of all sections of the community to qualify for grants. When the committee reports I will be delighted to discuss in the House the recommendations to ensure that students who have the intellectual ability will not be discriminated against in regard to third level education on the grounds of inability to pay. I share the Deputy's concern with regard to increased numbers. This is a problem Ministers will have to face in the last decade of this century because of our demographic trends which do not pertain in other European countries. I will take every opportunity to make that problem known to our counterparts in the EC who seek places in their universities on a slightly different basis from that operating at present. This being my opening question. I am sure members would like to join me in wishing well to all the students who began their examinations today. I am sure their concerns are shared by all the Opposition spokespersons. Indeed many students sitting examinations today will be affected by the different parts of the questions tabled to me today.
The Minister for Social Welfare did not wish them well in what they are doing.
In relation to the subject matter of my Question No. 9, will the Minister accept, as the matriculation examination has been abolished and since all information in relation to entry eligibility is freely available at the push of a button in the Central Applications Office, that there is no justification for a charge of £70 for the process of matriculation, as described by the Minister? Will she also accept that the imposition of this charge constitutes another barrier to entry to third level education, particularly in relation to children of PAYE parents and those from working class homes, cutting right across the aspirations of the Programme for Government in which the Minister had an input?
The term "matriculated student" appears in the Irish Universities Act, 1908, the Charter of the National University of Ireland and Statute No. 1 of the university. As the Deputy will be aware, regardless of whether they sat that examination students had to pay the fee. The sitting for the examination was not affected by charging a fee to become a student, with a matriculation certificate, to graduate. Under its legal charter the NUI has the authority to demand and receive such fees as its Senate may, from time to time, prescribe. Therefore, it is not a new barrier but one that has been in operation to quite some time. I take the Deputy's point about relevant information being readily available. However, it is not a question of information. According to the universities, it is a question of students registering in that way to be awarded a degree. As Minister for Education, I do not have the power to issue instructions to the universities.
Does the Minister realise that, in extending good wishes to all students who commenced the leaving certificate this morning — wishes in which we all share — she has given the thumbs down to one of the major aspirations, that the review of the operations of the third-level grants system, as revised by the Minister's predecessor last year, will not be completed until next year? Does she realise that the deadline for taking a course option is two weeks' time? Equally does she realise that all the choices of these students will be based on the availability of ESF, regional technical college, vocational education committee or higher education grants and that there will be disappointment that the Minister has not published the results before now?
There is only so much I could have done in the short term of my period in office. Major changes were effected in 1992 which I spelled out in great detail on the last occasion on which I answered questions here. I share Deputy Higgins's concern that all students cannot avail of the third-level grants system. As a result of that concern within the past two months, I appointed a grants committee who is working on that subject. We should not curtail the length of time that committee may sit if we are to be satisfied with its findings and recommendations. Given the history of former committees and the periods within which they sat, I am satisfied that this committee will report within a reasonable time.
On the subject of final options, I hope that most students sitting their examinations today will have made those choices, since they are taken much earlier in the year and dictate the subjects on which they will be examined. I should not like the message to go out from this House that everybody can indulge in final options now. A very small number of students are affected but I should not like that to detract from the good wishes we all offer them today.
Will the Minister accept that the £70 fee represents a very real obstacle to entry to third level education by a number of students who would benefit enormously from such education? Will the Minister accept that, while she said she does not have authority, she has a moral responsibility to talk to the National University of Ireland, pointing out to them that there is no justification for the imposition of this fee?
While Deputy Quill and I accept that I do not have the power or authority to issue instructions to the universities, this is not a new imposition but one which has been in operation for some time. Of course, it applies only to those who apply for places in the National University of Ireland and not to any of the other colleges. Deputy Quill may wish to advance that moral argument to the universities. As I said, I am at present refraining from making a comment on fees or any amounts of money which will become available to universities within the next year.
