If fees are re-introduced what form do you think they will take?

RebelGirrrl

I know that no decision has been made yet, but if fees are introduced how likely is it that they would be up-front fees or that his deferred-loan scheme would be the way?

oldyouth

Cash up front, in full. I don't see any other way it could work at the moment. None of the banks have the funds for student loans on that scale at the moment and it would be pointless in the Govt doing a scheme, when they need the cash for the Universities now

RebelGirrrl

He did say his preference was for a deferred-loan scheme though?

Sad Professor

oldyouth wrote: »

Cash up front, in full. I don't see any other way it could work at the moment. None of the banks have the funds for student loans on that scale at the moment and it would be pointless in the Govt doing a scheme, when they need the cash for the Universities now

Yeah but whatever they decide they will have to sell it to the electorate, whom they are on very shakey ground with as it is. A deferred loan/graduate tax looks a helluva lot better to voters because they don't have to pay it. Students will. And they don't vote apparently.

The government is already paying the tuition fees. Aside from the cost to set up and administer, a deferred loan scheme wouldn't cost the government anything. After a few years it would be a source of income (€200m+) that would go to the universities.

But like you say they are cash-strapped at the moment, so they may make the rich pay upfront. Or more likely, they will give them the option to pay upfront at significant discount while everyone else gets stuck with massive debt.

RebelGirrrl

Anyone else?

Baird

oldyouth wrote: »

Cash up front, in full. I don't see any other way it could work at the moment. None of the banks have the funds for student loans on that scale at the moment and it would be pointless in the Govt doing a scheme, when they need the cash for the Universities now

What kind of rubbish is that?
Of course the banks have the capabilities to loan out a few hundred million to
70k students a year. AIB alone has a loan book of nearly 200bn at the moment.

It would take the form of a deferred loan scheme most likely with banks paying
the money to the universities up front with loan repayments over 5-10 years or
whatever suits the student the most likely scenario. No sane banker is going to
expect a student to start repaying loans while they are still in college.

RebelGirrrl

So you think definitely deferred loan?

Baird

Every college in ireland would be a ghost town if it was an up front payment.
A taxation scheme for graduates would mean the money would take years to filter back to the universities.
Only viable option is really a deferred loan system