UCD STUDENTS' union has sharply criticised the Minister for Education for her failure to address the issue of fees for evening students. "A second chance in education is denied for many students by the Minister refusal to abolish fees for evening students," says UCD students union education officer Cormac Moore.

"If Niamh Bhreathnach is interested in improving access to third level education for all "sectors within our society, she has no option but to abolish fees for all undergraduate courses, day and night."

Most students take on evening degrees to improve their career prospects, but they are effectively penalised by high fees and taxation, he said. "Evening students are now also paying for undergraduate day students through taxation," Moore says. "The situation is completely unfair and discriminatory.