The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Time for next Donogh O’Malley to stand up for the youth of Ireland
SIR, Donogh O’Malley is fondly remembered in Kerry for his marriage to Dr. Hilda Moriarty of Dingle, who inspired Patrick Kavanagh’s poem Raglan Road, which was set to music by Luke Kelly.
“The School Man” will also be forever revered as a dynamic Minister for Education (1966/68), who 50 years ago opened the portals of knowledge and opportunity to the youth of Ireland by introducing feefree post-primary education and a free school transport scheme. He introduced Regional Technical Colleges (RTC), now Institutes of Technology, in areas where there was no third level college in proximity, as well as National Institutes of Higher Education (NIHE) in Limerick and Dublin, now UL and DCU, respectively. He launched means-tested third level grants which gave easier access to less well-off students.
O’Malley’s steadfastness in withstanding the conservatives and mandarins who, either wanted to retain elitism in education or complained that the country couldn’t afford it, has provided Ireland with the best educated and most productive workforce in Europe. The beneficiaries of O’Malley’s plan for equality of opportunity have repaid the country a thousand-fold through employment, taxation, volunteerism and non-dependence on welfare.
Thirty years later, Niamh Bhreathnach, Minister for Education (1993/97) abolished third level tuition fees and would undoubtedly have introduced further equality reforms had she not lost her Dáil seat in 1997.
The recently published Cassells Report on the future funding of higher education has put three options on the table: 1, a state funded system; 2, increased state funding and retention of the student contribution; or 3, an income-contingent loan system. Options two and three are out as they totally undermine the O’Malley legacy for equality of access to education. Option one is the only one prioritising fairness, equity and inclusion in education.
The report also recommends an increase in maintenance grant aid for students. I would respectfully suggest the following modifications as necessary, reasonable and affordable:
Abolish the €3,000 student contribution.
Restore the minimum qualification distance between home and college for the non-adjacent (larger) grant from 45km (28ml) to its pre-recession level of 24km (15ml).
Increase the standard non-adjacent maintenance grant from €3 ,025 to €5,000 and the standard adjacent (smaller) maintenance grant from €1,215 to €2,000.
Increase the annual income level for standard grant eligibility to €40,000 NET from the current gross level of €39,875.
It’s high time for the next Donogh O’Malley to stand up in the Dáil and fight the good fight on behalf of the youth of Ireland. Sincerely, Billy Ryle, Spa, Tralee.