Students say college levies are 'fees by the back door'
Student representatives claim levies are being used to plug gaps in state funding. Photo: Posed - Getty Images
Friday November 20 2009
A NEW row over third-level funding has been sparked by student union claims that colleges are using most of their €1,500-a-head registration charges to plug gaps in state funding.
The claim by student representatives in the country's two largest universities, TCD and UCD, will be investigated by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
The students say that the registration charge, which is intended to pay for college services such as sports, health services and career advice, amounts to "fees by the back door".
The charge was introduced by the Department of Education in 1996, when full-time tuition fees were abolished, to fund student services other than the cost of tuition, which is covered by a government grant.
The students at both universities claimed yesterday that only one third of the money they paid over was going to support student services, as required by law.
TCDSU President Conan O Broin said he believed their situation was nationally representative.
Third-level college sources said that twice in recent years, in 2002 and 2008, the increase in the registration charge was linked to a reduction in government funding for colleges.
Mr O Broin cited internal TCD documents which showed that of the €1,500 paid by Trinity College students only €537 was being spent on student services.
"We need accountability and transparency in how registration fees are spent," he said.
He called on the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee to investigate the matter.
A TCD spokesperson countered the students' union claim and said the registration fees supported up to 80pc to 85pc of the full costs of providing student services.
Income
The balance of the funding for the student services in Trinity College was met from income generated by the college.
UCD students union president Gary Redmond said only €505 of each student's registration fee at the university went directly to student services.
"This arrangement is unacceptable," he said. "Students are paying more in their registration fee each year, but seeing less of a return.
Fine Gael Education Spokesman Brian Hayes has called on the Comptroller and Auditor General to investigate the claims.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Department of Education said that it had asked the HEA to investigate the matter.
- Katherine Donnelly
Irish Independent
