PROPOSALS to reintroduce third-level fees could be brought before the Government in less than 18 months, Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe said last night.
Speaking in Limerick, Mr O'Keeffe said given the number of millionaires now living in Ireland, and given the growth of private schools, it seemed appropriate that people with "quite a significant amount of wealth" should pay for third-level education.
Reiterating views he expressed in an interview with The Irish Timesyesterday, he said it seemed "ironic and indeed incongruous" that those who are well able to pay for private second-level education would walk in free to third level.
Mr O'Keeffe claimed that a third of students attending UCD come from private fee-paying secondary schools. "I am of the view that as a result of the Bank of Ireland wealth report, where it indicated that there were 33,000 millionaires in this country and where obviously people have quite a significant amount of wealth, that it would be appropriate," he said.
The Minister also confirmed that he had already received one report on the level at which third-level fees might be set at in an effort to determine what the return to the State might be.
"For the first time in the history of Ireland, we are going to have a national strategy on third-level education and that could take about 18 months . . . 18 months is the time but I may be in a position much earlier in terms of the fees and the loans system. I might be in a position to present them to Cabinet at an earlier stage," he said.
Mr O'Keeffe was speaking in Adare where he attended the annual JP McManus scholarship awards ceremony.
Eight students from Colaiste Michil in Limerick will receive €6,750 a year during their next four years in college as part of the awards which are worth more than €200,000. Established in 1996, the scholarships have resulted in payments of €1.27 million to date.
Mr McManus said he was delighted to be able to contribute towards the students' third-level education.