Fine Gael and Fianna Fail at loggerheads over student fees
Another rift has broken out between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil over the future of third-level college fees.
Despite the two parties being in coalition, the Fine Gael press office issued a statement from its TD, Maeve O'Connell, criticising Higher Education Minister James Lawless.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week on Sunday, Mr Lawless stated that the €1,000 student fee cut that was in previous budgets was unlikely to be repeated.
It is likely that fees will revert to €3,000 as the cost-of-living package seen in other budgets is unlikely to be repeated.
In a statement, Deputy O'Connell took aim at the Fianna Fáil minister, stating that "Fine Gael firmly committed to cutting student fees".
She said that "Tánaiste Simon Harris and Fine Gael remain committed to honouring the Programme for Government Commitment to continue reducing the Student Contribution Fee".
She added: "To put this in context, for every €1 increase in social welfare rates, the cost is approximately €75 - €80 million.
"A €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee costs €99 million. These are the choices that the Government will need to make as part of the Budget."
Fianna Fáil sources told the Irish Mirror that these cost-of-living decisions are "made every year" by the Government leaders, adding that Ms O'Connell "needs to talk to the Tánaiste".
They argued that of 143,000 third-level students, 67,000 pay no contribution fee or reduced rate due to SUSI grants.
One source said: "The €1,000 off costs €100m. Everyone from the wealthiest – Michael O'Leary and JP McManus' kids – can get this €1,000.
"Middle-income people are getting the same. The Minister wants to target the money to those who really need it."
It is understood that there is a desire to raise the grant thresholds by up to 15 per cent so that more people can avail of the grant.
Minister Lawless, meanwhile, said on Monday that the threshold for households who can avail of grants is "higher than it has ever been" at €115,000.
He said: "I want that to go higher and I want to give more grants to more people than we've ever done before."
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