Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Deputy Donnelly's comments. I am not sure how widespread it is but I know from calls to my office, and from people I know personally, that parents are having to decide which of their children to send to college and perhaps hold him or her back a year because they simply cannot afford the fees. I can see from the Schedule that the fees are due to increase by €250 each year until 2015 which will make the decision worse.

The spat between the Minister's party and Deputy Rúairí Quinn is now in the public domain and has provided us with some entertaining quotes that were made by members of the Minister's party, namely, Deputy Tom Barry, about tractors in the church. The comments brought a smile to our faces but behind it is a serious issue. The Department of Education and Skills is examining whether to classify income for the purpose of student fees. That could have the potential to make a whole new tranche of people eligible to pay student fees and we also know that the thresholds have decreased. The policy is flawed. We are moving in the wrong direction. Education should be a right and not a privilege. Free education was introduced by the former Minister for Education, Niamh Bhreathnach, when the Labour Party was in government. It was positive step for the State but we are a million miles from that today.

Can the Minister inform the committee whether an individual can still get tax relief on third level education fees? Does it range up to the value of the fee which is €2,500 for 2013? Will everybody be affected by the measure?