Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I agree there must be a sustainable strategy in respect of the public finances and growth. The Taoiseach seeks to suggest the commitment made in the programme for Government was made in a different economic environment. The commitment was made in the revised programme for Government, published on 10 October 2009. This does not date to before the banking crisis but was produced at a time when the level of unemployment was 412,000 people. I appreciate why the Taoiseach wants to see positive news in the reduction in the number of people out of work. That is welcome but the number of people out of work according to the live register decreases every October. This time last year it was 412,000; it is now 17,000 higher at 429,000. Nevertheless, the commitment is that there would not be any new scheme of student contribution for third level education. This commitment was not made by the Labour Party or Fine Gael; it was made by the Taoiseach and his partners in government this time last year. The Taoiseach now tells us that new schemes are being considered.

The Taoiseach did not distance himself from the speculation over the weekend that the student registration fee would be significantly increased and that there might be a new fee for post leaving certificate students. At a time when there are high levels of unemployment, does it make sense financially or socially to put new fee obstacles in the way of people entering education? Would someone out of work not be better off doing a post leaving certificate course or a third level college course rather than drawing the dole? Does it not make financial sense to say to someone who wants to do a post leaving certificate course that we will charge €500 and that if the person cannot or does not pay the €500 we must pay the person the dole in order to do nothing?

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