THIRD-LEVEL EDUCATION deserves long-term thinking, not short-term chaos.

This week has been nothing short of a disaster for students and their families. In the space of 48 hours, government policy on student fees lurched from one extreme to another—leaving thousands of students and their families confused, anxious, and angry.

Last Sunday, Fianna Fáil’s Minister James Lawless, stated clearly and without qualification that student fees would increase to €3,000 in September with a previously applied discount now removed.. Less than 24 hours later, Fine Gael TD Maeve O’Connell – his Government colleague – completely contradicted him. The result? Total confusion for those trying to plan.

This wasn’t just a communications blunder. It was a political failure. At stake is more than the ability of Ministers to keep their lines straight – it’s about whether or not we believe in access to education as a right and a public good.

College should not be a luxury. It should not be the preserve of those who can afford it. The plan to roll back the reduction in student fees is nothing short of regressive. It tells students from low- and middle-income families that they are not a priority. It tell them that this government will balance its........

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