Róisín Mc Keon Age: 21Third year Gaeilge and Politics, BA, UCD

Is yours the first generation of your family to attend third level? Yes

Do you consider yourself well off?

Not at all

Do you have a job? I had a part-time job before and during Christmas, but it's now impossible for me to work because of my exams and course work.

Do you find it hard to fund college now? I find it extremely difficult and next to impossible at times. I have considered dropping out on several occasions due to financial difficulties.

How would the reintroduction of fees affect you? I would not be able to attend college, it's as simple as that.

How would it affect your family, younger siblings etc? My parents struggle as it is, paying for my day-to- day expenses as college is so costly, what with books, travel and food. I have to travel for over four hours a day to get to and from UCD because I just can't afford to live away from home. To ask my parents to pay fees would be just impossible.

Do you believe that those in higher- income brackets should pay college fees? I don't think the situation is as simple as that. It is unfair to judge students on their families' income. Just because a student's parents have a high income, it doesn't guarantee that they will be supported through their time in college.

Do you think that access to third level would be improved for lower-income groups if fees were reintroduced? To be honest, I don't believe Minister Dempsey when he says that any revenue gained from the reintroduction of fees would be put into access schemes. For example, where exactly has the revenue for the increase in capitation gone? I don't see a difference in the student services in my college. In my opinion, the Government is hoping that by ripping off students they will be able to cover any budget deficits they might have.

What is your advice to Noel Dempsey? Mr Dempsey obviously doesn't understand the difficulties students face every day. I have friends working up to 20 hours a week to support themselves - and they're also trying to prepare for their finals. He should wise up and understand that if he brings back fees, students won't be able to attend college, it's as simple as that. If Dempsey is looking for a fight, he has one.

Breandan MacGabhann, Age: 21 tomorrow, Third year Geology, Trinity College Dublin.

Is yours the first generation of your family to attend third level? No

Do you consider yourself well off? My family is reasonably well off. Personally, I'm not.

Do you have a job? No - I simply don't have the time. Four times this term I've had to stay up all night to get work done - and it's not because I'm lazy or anything. If you want to do well in college, you have to work hard.

Do you find it hard to fund college now? I get a loan from the British government, and that only covers about half the cost of the year. The rest, I'm lucky enough that my parents can afford to give me it. Even so, I'm on a very tight budget.

How would the reintroduction of fees affect you? My parents have told me they'll pay them for the one year I have left at college, so I'll be one of the lucky ones. But many of my friends aren't as lucky, and would have to drop out.

How would it affect your family, younger siblings etc? Well, my younger brothers and sisters wouldn't be going to Trinity, that's for certain! They'd probably have to stay in Belfast for college - at least that removes the accommodation cost, which is considerable. It'll also affect the standard of life my family has - there would be several thousand euro less in the bank, after all.

Do you believe that those in higher- income brackets should pay college fees? No. I think too many exceptions would have to be made - what about people whose parents don't want them to go to college, for example? Besides, the increased income you get if you have a college degree means you pay more in tax, and that has been shown to more than cover the cost of the fees.

Do you think that access to third level would be improved for lower-income groups if fees were reintroduced? No. It would just mean that those in the middle would lose out - families with a nurse and a teacher as a parent and two or three children at college, for example.

What is your advice to Noel Dempsey? Implement all the recommendations of the Department of Education report on Access to Third-Level Education - and resign for being so incompetent as to take decisions on this topic a year after this report was written without having read it!

Pádraig Ó Duinnín, Age: 23, BA, NUI Galway

Is yours the first generation of your family to attend third level? No

Do you consider yourself well off? No. Apparently, we are comfortable enough so that I am not eligible for a grant, but when two of your siblings are also attending third level at the same time, it becomes a very different story.

Do you have a job? Yes, working between 20/25 hours a week.

Do you find it hard to fund college now? Yes. Increased costs in rent and general living are bad enough, but with an extra €670 to pay this year as well, it becomes even more difficult.

How would the reintroduction of fees affect you? It would make continuing in third level impossible next year.

How would it affect your family, younger siblings etc? It wouldn't be possible to continue putting more than one of us through college at the same time.

Do you believe that those in higher-income brackets should pay college fees? I believe that access to third-level education should not be denied because of financial constraints.

Do you think that access to third level would be improved for lower-income groups if fees were reintroduced? Absolutely not.

What is your advice to Noel Dempsey? The current steps being taken by the Government and his department are blatantly and deliberately erecting barriers to third-level education. They are in conflict with the premise that access is a right, access which previous governments have broadened for those in this State.