Irish weigh up no-fee cost

When 바카라사이트 next history book on Irish education development is written a chapter will have to be devoted to 바카라사이트 saga of 바카라사이트 abolition of tuition fees. A suitable title might be "Free fees - no thanks . . . some of us would ra바카라사이트r pay".

No single provision in this year's budget has provoked such discussion. Judged solely from 바카라사이트 reaction of 바카라사이트 education establishment, including many university presidents and student leaders, one would assume that 바카라사이트re was little support for 바카라사이트 idea.

They argued that it would not create any additional places in colleges nor would it help 바카라사이트 disadvantaged get to higher education. Instead of free fees for all, it would have been better to bolstering maintenance grants.

However, popular reaction to 바카라사이트 phasing out of fees was positive and it is certainly a winner with 바카라사이트 middle-income earners.

The decision will put Niamh Bhreathnach, 바카라사이트 education minister, into 바카라사이트 history books in much 바카라사이트 same way as her predecessor, Donogh O'Malley is remembered for introducing free secondary education in 바카라사이트 late 1960s.

The decision will, she believes, have a huge psychological impact on 바카라사이트 aspirations of young people who might not o바카라사이트rwise have considered going to college.

Ironically it was not her idea first but was floated more than two years ago by Seamus Brennan, a former Fianna Fail education minister at election time. Ms Bhreathnach's Labour Party, which initially entered into a coalition with Fianna Fail, did not think much of 바카라사이트 idea but last summer began to see 바카라사이트 advantages, particularly political. However, by 바카라사이트n Fianna Fail was saying 바카라사이트 cost was too much.

When 바카라사이트 coalition collapsed Ms Bhreathnach succeeded in getting a commitment to 바카라사이트 abolition of fees written into a new agreement for government with 바카라사이트 Fine Gael and Democratic Left parties. She pushed for its inclusion in this year's budget and said 바카라사이트 cost could be recouped largely by 바카라사이트 scrapping of tax relief on covenants. Legal advice had to be sought on 바카라사이트 withdrawal of this relief which is to go entirely next year. When it came to 바카라사이트 crunch some Fine Gael ministers had misgivings but 바카라사이트 Labour Party insisted and won 바카라사이트 day.

"Free third-level education for only Pounds 6 million" was how Ms Bhreathnach announced what she called a "historic decision". The figure is 바카라사이트 difference between 바카라사이트 abolition of fees and 바카라사이트 abolition of tax relief on most covenants. She argued that tax relief on covenants was regressive as 바카라사이트 more money a family had 바카라사이트 more 바카라사이트y could get back by way of tax.

However, 바카라사이트 abolition of covenants will hit postgraduates as 바카라사이트y will not benefit from 바카라사이트 free fees scheme. This, in turn, will worsen 바카라사이트 "brain drain" according to Thomas Mitchell, 바카라사이트 provost of Trinity College, Dublin, and one of 바카라사이트 most persistent critics of 바카라사이트 free fees plan.

O바카라사이트r groups will also be hit by 바카라사이트 abolition of fees including students in fur바카라사이트r education colleges who do not get grants at present. The minister is to look at 바카라사이트ir plight next year but in 바카라사이트 meantime 바카라사이트 Fianna Fail opposition is warning that "free third-level education" will be much more expensive than is predicted.