The right answer

“#pfg11 freebie for review of HE funding – just cog http://t.co/Vmqw5Z1. My students will do it for you … inc contingent loan is your answer” (tweet)

[Colm Harmon, Twitter, 7 March]

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Students face €2,000 charge but graduate tax shelved

“Students will be hit with registration charges of €2,000 from September, but plans to saddle them with debt worth one-third of the cost of their courses have been shelved …” (more)

[John Walshe, Independent, 7 March]

Graduate tax will push poorer students away from college

“Fine Gael is proposing a radical rise in the charges for third-level education. Its manifesto states that its plan involves a graduate contribution from students of roughly a third of the cost of their course …” (more)

[Independent, 2 March]

FG’s plan to ‘tax’ graduates faces legal challenge

“A Fine Gael-led government will face a High Court challenge if it proceeds with plans to make 40,000 students starting college in the autumn pay back part of the cost of sending them to third level …” (more)

[John Walshe, Independent, 25 February]

Poll: Students prefer loan scheme to FG’s graduate tax

“The majority of young people do not support Fine Gael’s proposals for a ‘graduate tax’ and instead favour a loan scheme to fund third level education. An Irish Examiner-Red C poll found more students would prefer to pay up-front fees than be burdened with extra taxes when they enter the workforce …” (more)

[Mary Regan, Irish Examiner, 21 February]

Enda speaks

“Enda Kenny has described as ‘preposterous’ Labour’s plans for 3rd level funding saying it would lead to ‘exorbitant, higher taxes’ #ge11” (tweet)

[RTÉ Election, Twitter, 19 February]

Labour slams graduate tax policy

“Labour has again rounded on Fine Gael policies claiming its proposed graduate tax would lead to a ‘brain drain’. As the final weekend of campaigning kicked off, the Labour youth wing said the levy will force struggling graduates abroad …” (more)

[Independent, 19 February]

FG’s uncosted graduate tax will lead to brain drain out of Ireland

“The Labour Party is today launching a new campaign opposing Fine Gael’s proposals for backdoor third level fees, or a ‘graduate tax’ …” (more)

[Labour Party Blog, 19 February]

Coughlan rules out ‘graduate tax’ under Fianna Fáil

“The outgoing Education Minister Mary Coughlan is ruling out the introduction of a ‘graduate tax’ if Fianna Fáil is returned to power …” (more)

[BreakingNews.ie, 17 February]

FEE students picketing Fine Gael HQ

“Students from the FEE (Free Education for Everyone) campaign are picketing the offices of Fine Gael today (2:30pm) in protest at the plans of the party to introduce a Graduate Tax system …” (more)

[Free Education for Everyone, 16 February]

Fine Gael plan for graduates: Tax, internships and homework

“A graduate tax, a national internship scheme, compulsory jobs diaries and a requirement to take part in a FÁS course or lose your dole are among Fine Gael’s plans for Ireland’s unemployed graduates …” (more)

[Gerard Cunningham, NewsWhip, 16 February]

Scrap tuition fees? Yes we have

“Liberal Democrats in government are about to scrap student tuition fees for 54.2% of students. This may come as a surprise, but that is because this side of the story isn’t really being told …” (more)

[John Hemming, Guardian, 7 November]

Yes, there should be a graduate tax – but just for the ‘charmed generations’ aged between 45 and 70

“The problem with the prospective and uncertain cuts outlined recently is that we all are so busy working out how to deal with them that we haven’t stopped to ask the obvious question: ‘Is there really an alternative way to reduce the deficit?’ Moreover, it is only natural that we focus on cuts to school, college and early year education, with the result that we pay less attention to other sectors …” (more)

[Tim Brighouse, TES Connect, 5 November]

Vince Cable ditches graduate tax plans for England

“Business Secretary Vince Cable is to abandon plans for a graduate tax to fund universities, the BBC has learned …” (more)

[Sean Coughlan, BBC News, 9 October]

Graduate tax ‘will benefit university dropouts’

“A graduate tax will reward university dropouts, time-wasters and students who pursue easier courses, according to business leaders. The Institute of Directors warned that the introduction of a tax on graduates’ future earnings would punish those who worked the hardest and secured the best jobs …” (more)

[Graeme Paton, Daily Telegraph, 21 September]

New universities push for graduate tax, not fees

“A think tank representing newer UK universities is attempting to head off the prospect of higher tuition fees for undergraduate students by reviving the case for a graduate tax through which students would contribute to the cost of their education over their working lives …” (more)

[David Jobbins, University World News, 19 September]

Tuition fees to rise as Lord Browne set to reject graduate tax

“Lord Browne, the former head of BP, is spearheading a review of student finance with a report expected to be published in the coming weeks. A draft report produced yesterday and scheduled for publication on October 11 was not convinced by the idea of a tax collected from graduates after they have left university, according to reports …” (more)

[Nick Collins, Daily Telegraph, 7 September]

Greens set to consider graduate tax

“A graduate tax will be one of the measures on education funding considered by the Green Party at a seminar in the coming months amid increasing pressure to fund colleges and reintroduce fees …” (more)

[Discussion thread at politics.ie]
[Juno McEnroe, Irish Examiner, 23 August]

Students demand debate over graduate tax fears

“The student movement in Northern Ireland has called for an urgent debate on university funding amid growing fears over the possible cost of a graduate tax …” (more)

[Kathryn Torney, Belfast Telegraph, 10 August]

Holyrood weighs up graduate tax

“When Business Secretary Vince Cable called for Lord Browne to give serious consideration to introducing a graduate tax as part of his review into the funding of higher education in England, it was perhaps not immediately obvious that there would be a knock-on effect for students in Scotland …” (more)

[Lindsey Rogersons, Herald Scotland, 7 August]