Friday, 20.03.2009
ESRI warns of pitfalls of re-introducing fees

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) is warning of the pitfalls of re-introducing third-level fees.<br /><br />The warning follows confirmation from Education Minister Batt O'Keefe that he plans to bring back tuition fees in the coming years.<br /><br />Mr O'Keeffe says existing students will not be affected, but anyone going to college from this September can expect to be paying fees from 2010 onwards.<br /><br />In a report out today, the ESRI says that, while more than 60% of Leaving Cert pupils go on to third-level education, most are from better-off backgrounds.<br /><br />However, it says there is a danger that re-introducing fees could make this even worse and any proposals on the matter need to be well-considered and accompanied by measures to help vulnerable groups.