Mr. Tim Conlon:

It is a bit like the conversation around foreign direct investment, FDI, and corporate tax. Does one scare people away if one messes with the rates? The Deputy mentioned State, student and employer. All three benefit from the value of higher education. The State and population benefits from the quality of life we have from having an educated population and all that goes with that, but also the taxes it pays. We see a higher level of education and better life earnings and therefore, most likely, more tax paid. People make a contribution relative to their capacity to contribute. I would look at it from the other end. The challenging piece is for those students who cannot afford to access higher education and that imbalance in the system. We need to look more carefully at the supports in place for those who cannot access. If they cannot access, they cannot make a contribution.