Sir, - Ireland has an acute shortage of Third Level Education places, causing great distress to students, but students with ability and dedication are needed. Recent policies will make matters worse. Abolition of fees cuts some 25 per cent off the income of universities. Any extra money to be given by the tax payer would be better used in expanding our over-stretched facilities than in replacing fees.
In recent years the pressure of student numbers in the Republic has been reduced when our citizens accepted the UK offer of places without fees. The Irish taxpayers gained. Next year Britain will reintroduce fees and also reduce or abolish direct government grants to its students. In the same year the Republic proposes to abolish fees. Naturally this should reverse the flow and increase the pressure in the Republic.
Abolition of fees does little to attract students of ability from low income families. Living and study expenses and the immediate prospect of a job (however poorly paid) are the major deterrents. Both these students and the nation would gain by substantial scholarships based on means test and achievement at Secondary and Third Level.
"Free" goods are used wastefully. An adolescent from a well-off family who does not know what he wants to do is more respectable in college than obviously idle at home. His entertainment is to be at the tax payers' expense. Perhaps the best solution is to make a substantial entry fee, repayable on success in examinations or other grounds.
"Who pays the piper calls the tune". The certain effect of the proposals is to reduce the influence of students and parents, while extending that of the politician and the bureaucrat. - Yours etc.,
Professor Louis Smith,
Stillorgan Road, Dublin 4.