End of Fees scheme will damage access, education and economy
The National Youth Council of Ireland today responded to remarks by the Taoiseach on ending the free fees system, which he made at the Ógra Fiann Fáil Conference in Port Laoise at the weekend.
The Taoiseach proposed a student loan system, which NYCI has called an “inflationary time bomb” and “grossly unfair”.
NYCI President Kevin Hickey outlined the reasons behind his belief:
Students will be repaying loans long after they finish college because of what their parents earned when they were 18, not what they earned themselves - this is unfair
Reintroduction of fees will make third level education a private members’ club and will alienate students from disadvantaged areas - the aim of achieving greater access will not be achieved this way
Graduates will expect their wages to cover repayments on loans (at a time when they will have other financial commitments such as housing, transport, pension, health insurance) and wage inflation will rise - this will damage the competitiveness of the economy
The cost of college fees is only one factor in education. Healthcare, accommodation living expenses still have to looked after
PAYE workers were worst hit in the past as the self-employed had more avenues to ‘qualify themselves’ for grants and exemptions.