The reintroduction of third-level fees would be socially regressive, argues Joe Costello, defending Labour's abolition of the fees in 1995
Fianna Fáil in general, and Bertie Ahern, Charlie McCreevy and Noel Dempsey in particular, have an incredible ability to face in many different directions at the same time. Doublespeak and spin have become the hallmarks of this appalling Government.
Bertie Ahern has never introduced "cutbacks" because, according to the Minister for Finance, "we do not mention that word". Instead, he has introduced "adjustments" and "moderations in the increases".
Such words ring hollow for those affected by cutbacks in health, education, social welfare and overseas development aid.
Charlie McCreevy is the Minister for Finance who prides himself on fiscal prudence, but who squandered taxpayers' money on a pre-election spree buying votes.
Noel Dempsey took over as Minister for Education with a clarion call for improved access to education, particularly access to third-level education for students from socially-deprived communities. At last, we thought, a caring Minister!
However, his first act was to reduce access by increasing student registration and service charges by a whopping 69 per cent. His second act was to strike at the very heart of education. He announced cuts of €36 million in school retention initiatives, school building improvement works, IT research and development, and teacher recruitment and training.
But why should we be surprised? It is now clear that the Government parties lied through their teeth during the general election campaign and the promises made in their election manifestos are now not worth the paper they were written on.
The education cutbacks are the actions of an uncaring Minister who promised one thing and delivers the opposite. It beggars belief that this same Minister should now repeat that he is committed to widening access to third-level education and that he is proposing to reintroduce third-level fees to achieve it.
Niamh Bhreathnach as minister for education abolished tuition fees for third-level education in 1995 and opened up access to third-level education to tens of thousands of young people in universities, institutes of technology, teacher training colleges and post-Leaving Certificate courses throughout the country. It was a logical step to build on the introduction of free second-level education in 1967.
Education is a fundamental universal right. There should be no fees for tuition at primary, second-level, third-level or adult education.
The costs to parents remain enormous in supporting their children at primary and second level. At third level, the cost to parents and students is horrendous, in terms of accommodation away from home, food, travel, educational supplies and general maintenance.
When Niamh Bhreathnach abolished third-level fees in 1995, the cost to the Exchequer was virtually nil because at the same time she abolished the plethora of education covenants in the third-level sector that allowed a golden circle of wealthy people to avail of tax avoidance schemes to fund their children in college.
The current Minister first flew his cutback kite just days before students received offers of college places. It is possible that some students were influenced to choose courses solely on the basis that they would not be able to cope with the reintroduction of fees. Again, in the week when most third-level institutions begin their new term, Noel Dempsey flies the same kite again.
That is a cynical way to treat students beginning their third-level careers.
The reintroduction of third-level fees would be socially regressive. The arguments now being used for the reintroduction of third-level fees are the same ones used in the mid-1960s to oppose the introduction of free secondary education. It was many years before the real impact of Donogh O'Malley's brave and visionary decision was felt. It is only seven years since third-level fees were abolished and the long-term consequences of this departure will be as revolutionary as those of the 1967 decision.
It is beyond doubt that investment in education has widespread and hugely significant ramifications for economic growth and employment. Third-level education is as important now as second-level was in 1967. By cutting back on educational investment and threatening to reintroduce third-level fees, Noel Dempsey is damaging economic growth and undermining the employment prospects of many of our young citizens.
The Minister for Education would be better employed in reforming the third-level grants system, which is biased towards the better off.
Recent findings by Prof Paddy Clancy showed that a student in my constituency of Dublin Central is eight to nine times less likely to access third-level education than students from less disadvantaged areas. Noel Dempsey should spell out how he intends to address these findings, given that he is cutting back on the paltry existing initiatives designed to deal with this issue.
Joe Costello is Labour's spokesman on Education
and TD for Dublin Central