Madam, - I have worked in the area of fee collection in third-level education for the past 10 years and I believe that the "free fees" scheme has worsened disadvantage in both access and attendance for students from lower income groups.
Prior to the abolition of fees, the Department of Education and Science paid the fees of those on lower incomes through local authorities. "Free" fees brought no benefit to these students, but instead put them a greater disadvantage to those on higher incomes who now had additional disposable money. The growth in grind schools and the use of private grinds shows that much of this income has been used to pay for additional tuition at second level, making it more difficult for those who cannot afford grinds to compete for entry to third level.
Every day we see students struggling to survive financially in college. If fees were re-introduced, maintenance grants could be raised to a realistic level so that students from lower income groups would not have to work long hours to support themselves.
I believe that the increased registration of mature and disadvantaged students has been achieved through targeted initiatives such as the "back to study", not through "free" fees. If fees were re-introduced, additional funding could be provided for these schemes. - Yours, etc,
DEIRDRE GRATTAN, Fees and Grants Office, UCD, Dublin 4.
Madam, - It seems there is an opportunity before the Minister for Education to solve two deficits in our planned knowledge economy: the under-funding of undergraduate education in general, and the shortfall in those taking up science and engineering in particular.
By reintroducing fees via a loans scheme, and with a subsidy applying to fees for science and engineering courses, the Minister can provide the necessary economic incentives. - Yours, etc,
STEPHEN BARRETT, de Vesci Hill, Abbeyleix, Co Laois.