How Did We Get Here? A Brief History of 3rd Level Funding in Ireland

After 3rd level tuition fees were abolished in 1995 a student contribution fee of £150 pounds remained. By the second year of this new model, some universities had increased this fee to £180. Despite only being a £30 increase some critics saw it as a way of fees creeping in the back door over time. Today, despite the abolishing of tuition fees 20 years ago, a continual increase in the student contribution fee means students today are expected to pay €3000 per year. So how did this happen?

• In the early 1990’s, students themselves and their families were expected to pay tuition fees. At the time this was roughly £2000 per year.

• In 1995 Labour, who were a member of The Rainbow Coalition, implemented a policy abolishing third level fees. This was to remove barriers, making education accessible to all. Students were still expected to pay a ‘Student Service Charge’, commonly known as a ‘Registration Fee’. Initially this was the equivalent of €190.

• Failure to properly define what was covered by this fee allowed for small increases over the years. By the 2008/2009 academic year, this fee had increased to over €900.

• In the 2009 Budget, the first budget announced after the Irish economy went into recession, it was announced there would be a 67% increase in the student contribution fee, raising it to €1500.

• A further increase in the 2011 budget saw a further €500 euro increase in the student contribution fee, putting it at €2000 per year. At the same time, student grants were cut by 4%.

• Budget 2013 saw student fees rise again, now costing each student €2250 per year. Fees were set to rise by another €250 euro every year until 2015 where they would remain at €3000.

Fees currently remain at €3000.

A number of other factors, such as decreases in university funding and increases in the thresholds for student grant eligibility have also negatively impacted students. While the number of students attending 3rd level education is at an all-time high, the rankings of Irish universities have dropped significantly.

In July 2016 the Cassells Report on Third Level Funding proposed three potential models for third level funding Ireland could adopt. The Nordic Model (entirely state funded), the Dutch Model (high levels of state funding with small student contributions) and the Australian Model (moderate levels of state funding and moderate student contributions). It remains to be seen which of these models, if any, the government will adopt.