Seán Crowe
Question:9 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to publish his long-awaited report on the possible reintroduction of third level fees. [5814/03]
Other Questions. - Third Level Fees.
Joe Costello
Question:23 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science when he expects completion of the review of student support provisions he has commissioned, especially having regard to the need for those planning to attend third level institutions in the next academic year to be aware of the support provisions which will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5819/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 23 together.
A review of student support provisions is being conducted in my Department, aimed at ensuring that the benefits of the substantial investment being made are maximised in accordance with the requirement, under the terms of reference, "to review the present system of tuition fees and student supports, having regard to international experience, in order to provide options for the Minister's consideration with a view to ensuring greater equity in access to and participation in higher education." Departmental officials are conducting the review, although some issues require the engagement of external expertise. In this regard, the Economic and Social Research Institute has undertaken work to enable my Department to estimate the cost of various options. The work of the review group will be informed by relevant recently published reports and it is anticipated that the review will be submitted for my attention soon. I will make a decision on publication of the review when I have had an opportunity to consider its contents.
The Minister accepts that there are concerns about the review for people who are planning to go to third level college. I accept that there are many ways of looking at the key issues and I agree that the education system needs a thorough overhaul. Families cannot plan ahead if they do not know whether the Minister plans to reintroduce fees. Does he intend to continue to reintroduce fees by the back door by increasing registration costs? Such a reintroduction would cause particular difficulties for people from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Minister vowed last summer that means tested student supports would help reimburse those who cannot afford to pay fees. People are still waiting to receive money, however, as a result of the delay in his Department in sending out forms to local authorities. Many organisations, such as the USI, believe that the Minister will not do away with fees. People need answers as they cannot plan without them.
I look forward to the support of Sinn Féin if the review suggests that the Government should reintroduce fees for the wealthy. At the launch of my Department's Estimates, I said that I did not plan to allow an increase in registration fees or to make any changes to the higher education grants scheme until the review has been finished. People who are in the system and those about to move into it can rest assured that there will not be any major changes in relation to registration fees and the higher education grants before completion of the review. I said earlier to Deputy Gogarty that I will make an early decision and an early announcement about the academic year 2003-04 if the report is delayed or is more extensive than first thought. I accept the latter part of Deputy Crowe's point about students from disadvantaged backgrounds, but I am sure he will appreciate that such people qualify for grants and do not pay registration fees.
Will the Minister give the House a little more information about the review's terms of reference? I am not asking for a huge amount of detail. The Minister's comments in response to Deputy Crowe's question about supporting the reintroduction of fees if it is recommended by the review indicated that he favours such a move in such circumstances. Does the Minister feel that his comments will have influence on the outcome of the review? I am concerned that he appears to be stating his own opinion before the review has been finished.
I generally try to answer the questions I am asked, regardless of whether I am inside or outside the House. Coming from the background from which I come, I strongly believe that the limited amount of money I have for student supports –€383 million – should go to those who need it most. The concept of universality is a wonderful one in relation to certain benefits and we should aspire to it as long as we can afford it and everybody is treated equally.
It is clear from what I have seen that people from disadvantaged backgrounds, for example from parts of Dublin and Limerick and certain rural areas, do not receive a fair chance to access third level education. This opinion was echoed strongly in the report of the action group on access to third level education, which stated that it is neither equitable nor efficient for students from more advantaged social backgrounds to receive financial aid from the State to attend higher education, especially given that so many others are excluded. I have strong personal views on this matter, but the Government as a whole will make the decision on it.
Of the €383 million that is being spent on student supports, €120 million is being spent on third level maintenance grant schemes, €239 million on direct tuition fee support for all undergraduates and €24 million is targeted at disadvantaged pupils. The latter sum has increased substantially in recent years. I do not deny that I have strong feelings about the matter.
Will the Minister publish the review group's report before the Government makes a decision on it, to allow for discussion and consultation? Deputy Crowe mentioned that colleges are looking for an increase in registration fees for next year. In response to a question I asked him about the matter in November, the Minister said that the increase of 69% brought the registration fee more into line with the cost of providing the services that colleges have to provide. Is the Minister satisfied that the 69% increase was sufficient to allow colleges to meet the cost of examinations, registration and student services? Is he satisfied that the colleges are using the extra funds to pay for the services I have mentioned? If he is satisfied that the 69% increase was sufficient, surely the colleges do not need another increase.
The 69% increase was based on the 1999 needs of colleges in relation to the services mentioned by the Deputy, updated for inflation. The registration fee now covers everything that the colleges said it would cover and I do not expect it to increase by a huge amount. I would not like them to decide to increase the fee just to get extra income. It has to be related to the services it is supposed to provide.
Is the Minister aware of the presentations to the Joint Committee on Education and Science which indicated that the link between a possible reintroduction of third level fees and an increase in access among those from more disadvantaged backgrounds was, at best, tenuous? If that is so, will he leave this out of the equation in considering whether, with regard to the funding of an equitable education service, it is more efficient to introduce a wealth tax on income earners or fees for wealthier individuals?
I do not want to pre-empt the review or its findings. The introduction of free fees halted a slight decline in the numbers of lower to middle class students – I hate the terms – that had begun around 1993 or 1994. I refer to the children of teachers, gardaí, nurses and civil servants, among others. There was a decline from the mid-1990s in the number of children from that social class entering higher education. It appears, anecdotally rather than scientifically, that one child from such families was entering education while other children from the family were not. Free fees halted this and ensured the restoration of normal levels. However, this could have been achieved by an improvement in the grants system.