Sorry to bring more bad news but the 3250 charge comprises the 3000 registration fee and a 250 student levy - the latter is not eligible for tax relief either I'm afraid as it's not related to tuition.
The full cost of 3rd level education is probably closer to 10k per year (or a lot more for some subjects) so the registration fee is only a contribution to this. All student services - gym, student health, student supports, IT services, the library etc. are all running and available to students even though teaching may be online.
All courses are subsidised by the State, the full economic cost is not charged to users so to state (continuously) that they provide zero support is incorrect.Fair enough, I have got over the initial shock of the numbers notwithstanding I had some awareness of them.... obviously not enough! My main point was the complete lack of support from government via tax credits. They have a massive vested interest in producing educated graduates:
- supports the attraction of FDI and indigenous businesses
- graduates earn more and consequently pay more tax/social insurance over their working lives
- graduates earn more so are not a drain on the social welfare system
It is more the social contract concept I was getting at. Govt has a massive vested interest in producing high calibre graduates but, apart from building fine university facilities (and they do that), they provide zero support other than SUSI grants which are completely out of reach for even moderately paid people. That was my main point
All courses are subsidised by the State, the full economic cost is not charged to users so to state (continuously) that they provide zero support is incorrect.
It could be argued that our highly progressive income tax system already acts as a de facto graduate tax.
Yeah, but what happens if someone moves abroad and never works in Ireland again? I think the current system discriminates against working class people, there is a whole pile of work needed to ensure equality of access to third level education and also a re-think of what we value in society. The constant focus on third level education devalues those who chose (or can't afford) to attend third-level. A greater focus on apprenticeships and a basic income would be better in my opinion but that's a whole different kettle of fish.That is true but if we just ringfence the student loan bit, I foresaw a debt built up over 4 years and paid off by a Student Levy operated like PRSI over the students working like. In simplistic terms, it would be a 2.5% levy on earnings over say 40 years
Yeah, but what happens if someone moves abroad and never works in Ireland again? I think the current system discriminates against working class people, there is a whole pile of work needed to ensure equality of access to third level education and also a re-think of what we value in society. The constant focus on third level education devalues those who chose (or can't afford) to attend third-level. A greater focus on apprenticeships and a basic income would be better in my opinion but that's a whole different kettle of fish.
That is an extraordinary indictment of a type of bonded slavery, a feudal system that should have disappeared with the 16th century. I genuinely was not aware of that
Of course accommodation fees should , at the very least, qualify for tax relief.
I favour the general view of the OP viz: fees and the cost. Of course the 3rd level fees are subsidied, I presume the OP has some references available to the cost of other world-wide intitutes and their fees. However, until the primary & secondary schools are financed properly, which 100% of the population is entitled to go, and the full cost school books, materials and "voluntary contributions ended", any hope of completely free 3rd level is off the cards and is a fantasy.
Of course its in the Govt intererest to have good calibre graduates. But, lets not kid ourselves, its actually more to do with YOUR interest and your sons & daughters. Certainly when I was in Uni in the late '80's surviving on 55IR£ to live on , including food & accomadation 7 days a week, I wasnt thinking of the Govt, but just about how the hell I could get qualified, and get out of here and avoid the vast dole queues in Gardener St.
I'm working ever since, but I dont work for the Govt, I work to better my family first & foremost, so , if it means paying 12k a year for my son/daughter to go to UCD or CIT, I'll pay it, and forego the holiday/car/sky sports.
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