DEIRDRE GRATTAN,
Sir, - In an article on third-level fees in your edition of September 28th, your Education Correspondent, Emmet Oliver, states that "the sons or daughters of Ireland's wealthiest business people can currently cruise through. . .UCD or Trinity and not pay a single cent". However, any student who does not qualify for a grant must pay the registration fee each year plus student levies - over €730 in 2002-3.
He also states that a student "who tried college a few years ago and now wants to return has to hand over about €4,000 a year". I would point out, however, that anyone who dropped out and returns after a gap of five years or more qualifies again for "free" fee support.
Also, if a student withdrew because of certified serious illness then he/she may re-attend immediately with "free" fees.
In relation to the income levels for grants, in the current year if "free" fees were not in place, the child of a couple earning a maximum of €25,805 would qualify for full fee support from a local authority. With earnings of €27,304, half fee support is provided.
If more than one child, and/or a parent, is also pursuing a third-level course (including PLC, CERT, Teagasc, student nurse or garda), the income limits increase by €2,615 for each. - Yours, etc.,
DEIRDRE GRATTAN, Fees and Grants Office, UCD, Dublin 4.