Debate needed over tuition fees: Foster

FIRST Minister Arlene Foster has said there will have to be “a debate” about how Northern Ireland’s universities are funded. Speaking to the BBC, Mrs Foster (right) raised the issue of the level of university tuition fees here. It comes as the cash crisis for Health Minister Robin Swann has been spelt out in a Department of Finance ‘factsheet’ with almost £500m needed just to cope for next year.

FIRST Minister Arlene Foster said last night that there will have to be “a debate” about how Northern Ireland’s universities are funded.

Speaking on the BBC’s Inside Politics programme, the DUP leader also raised the issue of the level of university tuition fees.

Northern Ireland students currently pay up to £4,275 a year to study in the region, less than half the £9,250 maximum paid by students who live in England.

She was discussing how spending priorities might have to be set for the new Executive — and how funds may have to be raised from within Northern Ireland to meet any shortfall in funding from the UK Government.

“These are all policy debates we need to have, but I do think we need to have a look at, for example, universities and how they’re funded,” she said.

But the First Minister (right) ruled out introducing water charges, saying that the Stormont Executive was “at one” on the issue.

“I don’t see the issue of water rates coming back on to the table again,” she added.

Mrs Foster also said that the new Executive needed to have more discussions with the Treasury in London about funding for recurrent expenditure not covered by the New Decade, New Approach settlement, which enabled the restoration of the Assembly last week.

“Government costs money, and when people say: ‘I want to have all these things dealt with’. We have to say: ‘Where are our priorities?’” the Fermanagh-South Tyrone MLA told the programme.