Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Senator Power also raised the issue of student contributions to third level education. When tuition fees were abolished in 1997 or 1998, one of the reasons given was that the fee was considered a barrier to students, particularly those from lower middle-income backgrounds who could not qualify for grants because they were just above the threshold. The Higher Education Authority, HEA, recently drafted a report on student participation rates. It showed that, while many areas had experienced increases, some seemed to have seen decreases. Other factors may be involved, the figures are at draft stage and the report was a consultation document as opposed to a final report, but has the Minister considered the possibility that the increases in the student contribution over the years might be a barrier to attending third level?