Niamh Bhreathnach, taxi drivers and tuition fees

As we continue to struggle with questions of university funding, there is a fascinating little debate in today’s Irish Independent between Niamh Bhreathnach and Colm Harmon. Ms Bhreathnach was Minister for Education in Ireland when tuition fees were abolished in the 1990s, while Professor Harmon is the Director of the Geary Institute in UCD. Colm Harmon makes the extremely important point that it is not the absence of higher education fees that generates educational equality, but proper investment in combatting disadvantage at much earlier stages.

But for today I want to focus a little on what Niamh Bhreathnach writes. The article is really a plea to be recognised for her personal contribution to higher education, and she makes her point by quoting a taxi driver who told her that she was personally responsible for the successful university education of his four children. Indeed we are told that he expressed ‘muted thanks’ and then drove off ‘shyly’ (however one does that), and I think as readers we are supposed to contemplate the scene with a lump in our throats and a sense of deep admiration for a social project well done.

I don’t, as it happens, doubt that Ms Bhreathnach meant well when the government of which she was a member abolished fees, though I might add that I have personally heard from five cabinet members of the time who now believe it was all a mistake. It is also understandable that she should be anxious that her legacy should be recognised and celebrated. And I accept that the situation that existed prior to the introduction of ‘free fees’ was not satisfactory, including the distortions created by tax relief to which she refers. But none of that can overcome the fact that the abolition of fees turned into a disaster for the universities, who ended up having over time to absorb the money that had previously been paid by students, and that it did nothing whatsoever for the poorer sections of society, who have largely remained outside higher education.

Niamh Bhreathnach’s taxi driver could have had his children supported through university in a much more targeted way. It is silly to suggest that the price we have to pay for supporting middle income and poorer people in higher education is that we must also throw a lot of money at the wealthy. And experience has shown that the latter expenditure meant that we didn’t have enough money to direct at the disadvantaged. It is nice that she had her sentimental moment with the taxi driver, but at this stage it makes more sense to recognise the flaws of the ‘free fees’ framework and to move to something that is both socially more productive and of benefit to the financial needs of universities.

Explore posts in the same categories: higher education, politics, university

Tags: fees, Niamh Bhreathnach, tuition fees

You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.