Mr. Tony Donohoe:

It is politically toxic. That is why it has not been implemented. Politics are trumping policy here. It has been debated and has been the subject of significant lobbying. Objectively, if one looks at the OECD, World Bank, etc., especially with the high progression rates to third level education we have, that kind of funding model is required. It has to be a three-legged stool. If it is to be sustainable, it cannot just be the State because it will go up and down as the economic cycle goes up and down.

It is challenging in terms of design but the principle remains.