EDUCATION MINISTER Mary Coughlan has defended the introduction of new student charges on RTE1’s Prime Time tonight.
The Donegal South West TD was repeatedly challenged to clarify what sort of fees students and their parents would face under the 20-year education plan she announced earlier today.
“We are going to have to look at how we fund education,” said Ms Coughlan.
“We will look at a new alternative funding mechanism, a new method of supporting students through a grant or a loan. It is all available for consideration. It hasn’t been brought to finality.”
She said it was no longer feasible or sustainable for the Government to finance education whether “that is fees, loans or a graduate tax.”
Ms Coughlan insisted: “Grant aid will be available for those who can’t take out a loan.”
Said also said there would be a drive to bring in more students from overseas, with fees generated used to subsidise Irish students.
