Issued : Monday 20 June, 2011

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has now asked colleges to allow the €2,000 to be paid in two installments.

Minister Quinn has requested third-level institutions to allow €1,000 to be paid in September and the remaining €1,000 in January. He has written to all the higher education institutions and expects them to have the system in place in time for the new college year.

Cllr Gearóid Buckley has welcomed the news that the college registration charge can now be paid in installments.

‘I welcome the news that students can from September 2011 pay the third level registration charge in two installments. I am sure this will help many families get through the expensive back to school months of September and October.

‘Many institutes already offer this facility to students and should be commended for acknowledging the effects that the recession has had on families.

‘News that college fees could be returning is very disappointing. The program for Government clearly stated that college fees would not be introduced.

‘However, at the current rate of registration charges, students will pay €8,000 for a four year degree course. The registration charge is third level fees by another name and unlike a loan system or any other proposal it gets cash into colleges immediately in September.

‘This is of course very beneficial for cash starved Institutes but is a huge burden on families. The registration fee was introduced after third level fees were abolished and since then has increased substantially by 666%. These increases are not sustainable and the Minister needs to work with all parties to restructure third level funding into a fair and balanced system.