Irish students furious after politician backtracks on key election promise
By: Daniel O'Carroll | Published Monday, June 20, 2011, 2:45 AM | Updated Friday, September 9, 2011, 10:16 PM
Irish students are up in arms after education minister Ruairi Quinn yesterday backtracked on a promiseto campaign against any increase in college fees by refusing to rule out such an increase, and confirming that the registration fee would rise by €500 ($720).
The pre-election pledge, prepared by national students' union the Union of Students in Ireland and signed before the Minister was elected to power, stated that “If elected, I will oppose and campaign against any new form of third level fees including student loans, graduate taxes and any further increase in the Student Contribution”.
Yet just yesterday, delivering a key education policy address to the Royal Irish Academy, Quinn indicated that the registration fee would increase by €500 and refused to rule out an introduction of tuition fees, leaving the door wide open for the sort of increase that's been seen in England and would almost undoubtedly make college unaffordable for many Irish students barely managing to foot the price of college education as it stands, and who continue to drop out in large number and seek jobs abroad.
The USI were quick to pounce on the Minister's policy u-turn, issuing a stern warning picked up by the media not to 'renege' on the vow, but as an Irish Times opinion writer pointed out today, with the rhetorical question 'how much are pre-election promises worth?', it really shouldn't come as a shock, albeit a bitter one, that politicians no matter what their stripe or party cannot be expected to keep to their word, especially one issued before election-time, but it is nevertheless disappointing.
Ireland's third level system currently finds itself in an unsustainable financial situation, with low funding, rock-bottom tuition fees, and record high student numbers combining to force universities into debt, and even the most optimistic of commentators would have to acknowledge that with the government's hands tied to servicing a massive IMF debt, the only way to solve the funding shortage is for student fees to go up.
Key voices in Irish higher education, including president of UCC Prof Michael Murphy, incoming TCD Provost Patrick Prendergast, and popular academic-cum-blogger Ferdinand von Prondzynski, have also been forecasting an introduction of tuition fees for months, and despite the reluctance to make it any harder for cash-strapped Irish students to pursue a college education, it seems fairly reasonable that if the system is going to need more money to stay afloat, let alone to return to solvency, it's the beneficiaries of that system, the students, that should be expected to foot the bill.
It was a bit short-sighted to say the least, then, that Quinn should have even entered into such an obviously untenable pledge which the country could so obviously not afford to keep, not to mention the naivete of doing so with an influential students' union and media breathing down your neck, but a cold reminder that whatever wonders and fireworks politicians promise to offer before voting day comes rarely if ever come to surface once the new political order comes to power.
Despite all the understandable anger, though, it would equally be a pity if the anger currently being justifiably directed at Quinn would overshadow the hard work he's putting in for third level and education at the moment.
In just the last week alone the Minister has called for a revision of the antiquated college points admissions system (the CAO), granted a key non-denominational educator permission to run secondary schools (for the first time in the history of the State), launched a comprehensive reform of the Leaving Certificate including some clever ideas to incentivize entry into the courses industry are most eagerly seeking skills in, and commissioned a new report into the 'funding crisis' currently besetting the sector to look at a variety of possible ways of getting third level back on its financial feet.
Just today in Dublin he's launching the world's first ever third level degree in 'cloud computing', to begin this year at Cork Institute of Technology, which may provide Ireland with over 8,000 jobs in the sector over the coming years.
In a country used to languishing under the effects of Fianna Fail's 'laissez faire' approach to education policy-setting for far too long, it would be a pity to overlook reforms that could have a real benefit on Irish third level in the course of -- even if a promise, even a pledge, was broken.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Sunnyside | Jun 20, 2011, 04:23 AM EDT
This article is filled with so many inaccuracies it is incredible it was even published. The government did not "U-Turn" on college fees. Minister Quinn has, as pledged, opposed and campaigned against the introduction of College fees. However the realities are that this is a coalition government. People did not vote for Labour's education policy instead they voted for a coalition of Fine Gael and Labour policy. No matter how much opposing Minister Quinn does, the policy has to get passed at cabinet level, which is made up of a majority of Fine Gael members, who's policy proposed the introduction of college fee's through a graduate repayment scheme. If fees are not introduced I imagine your next headline to read something along the line of "Fine Gael refuse to make hard decisions and make another U-Turn on college fees" The reality is people voted for a coalition of parties to for the government and therefore they cannot expect to have both parties manifesto's incorporated into a programme for government.
jacersagain | Jun 03, 2011, 05:55 PM EDT
The most galling thing about Mr. Quiin is that he attached himself to the Labour Party while a student himself and he has gone on to become what he is known in Ireland today as the ‘Millionaire Socialist’. He should be challenged as to how and why he has accumulated so much capitalist wealth whilst espousing socialism. His ethics are seriously lacking. But then, he’s a polictician who knows how to screw people, like us tax-payers, and, like Roman Emperer Nero, not care what students and other ordinary people have to put up with these days while Ireland burns.
Bailey2000 | Jun 02, 2011, 09:34 AM EDT
I heard recently that attendance at UCD Computer Science lectures was less than 50%. Perhaps charging fees might actually improve the standard of education in lots of ways. I don't notice American Universities falling apart by virtue of expense.
peterson | Jun 01, 2011, 03:00 PM EDT
They tell you anything you want to hear to be elected, then do what they want --- typical !!!
eiriamach | Jun 01, 2011, 12:58 PM EDT
I am sorry to hear about the loss of scholarship money, Ms.Gail. My daughter had a similar disappointment, but that happened before the economy was in the awful situation of today, and she found another scholarship. I hope your daughter can find an alternative and continue her education. Is it possible for university students to enroll part time and work full time (IF they can find work)? That's how I completed my degree many years ago. Enough urban American universities are set up to accommodate part-time students. It takes a few years longer, but it's certainly worth the time and effort. Great good luck to your daughter!
Ms.Gail | Jun 01, 2011, 10:17 AM EDT
My sympathies. My daughter earned a partial scholarship from the state. After years of top grades, service projects (not requiried, just done) and meeting all the requirements (some causing her to give up things she would have rather done)the state said they cold no longer afford to provide the scholarship.
eiriamach | May 31, 2011, 08:55 PM EDT
Ooops! My mistake: The name of the writer is O'Carroll, whew! Daniel O'Connell would never agree.
eiriamach | May 31, 2011, 08:54 PM EDT
Is Daniel O'Connell an American? This article is capitalism carried a step too far. Look where that kind of thinking has gotten American politics today. University administrators in Ireland are among the highest paid in the world--start cutting at the top.
eiriamach | May 31, 2011, 08:46 PM EDT
Is this "reasonable"? "It seems fairly reasonable that if the system is going to need more money to stay afloat, let alone to return to solvency, it's the beneficiaries of that system, the students, that should be expected to foot the bill." No: although university graduates are the direct beneficiaries of their education, every citizen is an indirect beneficiary of the skills they learn and the knowledge and problem-solving they bring to their communities. Education benefits all; that's why it's right for the cost to be borne by all. It's important to keep higher ed equally accessible to everyone who is willing to do the work necessary to graduate. When money determines who can get a professional degree, the system has become too unfair, and protesting students shutting down traffic in Dublin and Cork and Galway streets should come as no surprise!
katetipp33 | May 31, 2011, 05:49 PM EDT
Another 500 on top of everything else we have to pay is going to make it extremely difficult for us to send our daughter to University. She deserves the chance and we are doing everything we can to make it happen for her. I am tired of this Government backtracking on everything they promised in the election. They seem intent on bailing out banks and they are just forgetting the ordinary people.
CitizenWhy | May 31, 2011, 01:29 PM EDT
Face it, the disastrous bailout, which the current government has persisted in, will dictate that every budget item in Ireland be shrunk to the point of dysfunction. Education is no exception. The fees will rise steadily.
antoman | May 31, 2011, 10:50 AM EDT
If every Irishman or woman can afford to attend college then there will be no one left to sweep the streets.Better to keep some of the populace as peasents and unaware of their potential had they a college education.It allows the more monied to fulfill their ambition of getting a good education and a suitable job.Can't have a chimney sweep as director of a prosperous business now can we.It would shatter the class system we have at present.
mamaginnty | May 31, 2011, 10:49 AM EDT
Very very few politicians are in it for the people, the wage packet, pension, and perks are the attraction.
jamieLM | May 31, 2011, 09:52 AM EDT
Quinn sounds just like American politicians. They make phoney-baloney promises to get elected and after they get elected, then they reneg on those promises. We're used to that here in the U.S. and we still too often fall for this trick. Don't believe everything you hear, especially from a politician. Actions speak louder than words.