“Having read Mary Kenny’s column on the subject of college fees, I feel compelled to defend the reputations of students throughout the country. Mary Kenny expressed the view that tutorial fees should be reintroduced and students should have to work in order to pay these fees, which she suggests would build ‘character’. As a Leaving Cert student, the thoughts of colleges fees terrifies me and if introduced, will rob many willing young men and women like myself of their career prospects. It was always my intention to work a part-time job to help pay my way through college, but I ask Ms Kenny, what part-time job (even before the recession) could finance fees of €6,000 to €10,000, plus the estimated €5,000 (living at home) that college already costs? …” (more)
[Michelle Nolan, Independent, 17 February]