Third-level graduates should contribute to the funding of third-level education, according to the director of the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (ITB), Dr Mary Meaney.
"Graduates belong to a privileged group," Dr Meaney said, pointing to the findings of the recent Clancy report which shows that "rates of admission to higher education in Dublin vary significantly by postal district, with admission rates slightly in excess of 77 per cent in Dublin 18, compared with an admission rate of 7 per cent in Ballyfermot".
At a Blanchardstown conferring ceremony Dr Meaney said that a post-graduation tax would increase opportunities for all and improve access to education.
"If graduates earn more than those who have not had the opportunity of third-level education, should they not pay increased taxes for a number of years following graduation?" Dr Meaney asked.
She called for the introduction of a change in the current funding model for third-level education, which would include a contribution from graduates on the basis of the graduate's ability to pay.
A spokesman for ITB said the concept of graduation tax "should definitely be explored as a way to generate funding that would broaden the availability of third-level places".
The main catchment area for ITB was Dublin 15, he added.
"Forty per cent of this area is studying at third level, but the more disadvantaged areas within the area, like Mulhuddart, have only 3.3 per cent going to third level. We are not advocating a blanket-charge tax but one based on each graduate's ability to pay.
"A graduate is statistically going to earn more than a non-graduate, and the tax concept should be explored," the spokesman said. "The cost of third-level education per capita is so much higher . . . and funds should be made available to those who are less well off."