By Irishexaminer.com Tadgh McNally In Japan
Miche谩l Martin admitted it would be difficult to cut student fees again in the upcoming budget, highlighting the 鈥渃hallenges鈥 facing the Coalition鈥檚 next financial plan.
Speaking in Tokyo, Mr Martin said the Government wants to introduce reforms that can be sustained across its five-year term.
鈥淭he T谩naiste and I, and Minister Paschal Donohoe and Minister Jack Chambers have agreed that there won鈥檛 be a cost of living package this year,鈥 Mr Martin said.
鈥淲hat we鈥檙e going to try and do is mainstream reforms and commitments in the Programme for Government into the Budget, that will be sustained then over a period of time. But that will create challenges for us in the first year.鈥
The comments follow confirmation from higher education minister James Lawless over the weekend that student fees 鈥 cut by 鈧1,000 over the last three years 鈥 would return to 鈧3,000, as this year鈥檚 budget will not include a cost-of-living package.
But on Monday, T谩naiste Simon Harris criticised Mr Lawless鈥檚 remarks. In a voice note sent to Fine Gael TDs and Senators, Mr Harris said it was 鈥渢rue to say鈥 there won鈥檛 be a once-off package of measures before Christmas, but emphasised that 鈥渨e all know that鈥檚 not how students pay college fees anyway.鈥
He stressed that “the regular budget is still something that can consider how we can help students and their families in the here and now.”
Mr Harris added: “I just want to be very clear, the budget will obviously be agreed by Government with key input from party leaders, but it does need to help families with the cost of putting a young person through college.
鈥淭hat’s the programme for government that I’ve signed up for, it’s the programme for government that Fine Gael has signed up for, it’s one that commits to reducing fees on a permanent basis.鈥
In Tokyo, Mr Martin said the Government also needs to examine other higher education priorities, including expanding the SUSI grant and improving access to third-level education for students with disabilities.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a broad range of priorities there. So it鈥檒l all go forward to negotiations,鈥 he said.
With student fees typically paid in instalments, Mr Martin was asked if it would be possible to cut the second instalment for students.
He said it 鈥渕ight be possible,鈥 but emphasised that it is early days ahead of the October budget and such decisions will depend on the funding agreed by the Minister for Public Expenditure.