The Labour Party will firmly oppose any plan to introduce an Australian-style student loan scheme - even if the current proposal to reintroduce fees is abandoned, writes Seán Flynn, Education Editor
Its education spokeswoman, Ms Jan O'Sullivan, said a loan scheme would represent a significant obstacle to those from less well-off backgrounds and those seeking second-chance education.
The Labour view is that the reintroduction of college fees mooted by the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, will be abandoned shortly because of pressure from the PDs and sections of Fianna Fáil.
It believes some kind of loans scheme is much more likely to emerge from the current debate on third-level funding.
Labour said yesterday a loans scheme would provide an incentive for skilled people to emigrate, "despite the need of the Irish economy to develop and retain such skills". A loans system would also see students opting out of expensive courses like science, where their skills were needed for the economy.
Labour has produced a 16-page document, Keeping The Gates Open, outlining its case for a retention of the free fees scheme. Ms O'Sullivan said yesterday; "The Labour Party in government abolished third-level fees and Labour is completely opposed to any attempt to row back on that historic policy initiative. Labour believes in state-funded and universal education at primary, secondary and third level. We believe that education must be a right and not merely a privilege."
The policy document sets out evidence to show that the abolition of fees has actually succeeded in increasing the numbers who can enter third-level education. It also advocates using the tax system to ensure that high earners pay their way in the education system.
The document says the proposed return of fees would be a regressive move. The plan was rooted in a political philosophy hostile to the notion of social citizenship, equality and fairness.
Mr James Wrynn, former programme manager to Ms Niamh Bhreathnach when she was education minister and a senior policy adviser with Labour, said the whole debate on fees was being corralled within the education budget.
But there was numerous ways the Government could raise funds by closing down some of the many tax-avoidance schemes.
Senator Joanna Tuffy said the abolition of fees had led to a fivefold increase in the number of students from the lowest socio-economic group (unskilled manual workers) going to college. The return of third-level fees would be a huge disincentive to those from poorer backgrounds who wished to go to college.
Meanwhile, the Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, has written to the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, inviting her to agree that the sending of letters to dozens of schools before the last election promising that work on building projects was about to begin was "a misuse of ministerial office".
His letter follows a call by Ms Harney on the former minister for education, Dr Woods, to clarify why he had directed his Department to prepare "good- news" letters about such building projects. She said on Monday that she would be concerned if schools were misled, while adding she did not know if this was the case.
In his letter to the Tánaiste, Mr Kenny maintains: "It is clear from any fair reading of the internal departmental correspondence that the multi-million euro primary school building programme was being used to maximise political gain.
"Civil servants trying to manage resources effectively were being put in an impossible position by a minister, who was making ad-hoc politically- inspired decisions."