Sir, - The report of an advisory group to the Government recommending an increase in the present level of third level grants payable to the disadvantaged makes unsurprising reading.
It would not have taken an Einstein when deciding to abolish university entrance fees to grasp that the objective of encouraging all of the children of the nation to progress in educational terms would have been better addressed by deciding instead to substantially increase the maintenance grant payable to those who needed every encouragement to enter third level.
The abolition of entry fees loaded the dice even further against students from poorer backgrounds. Having been encouraged in a minimal way to enter third level they were then obliged to take up part-time, labour-intensive, low- paid jobs while also attempting to compete with students who didn't need to work and who had access to extra paid tuition.
I sincerely hope even at this late stage that those who are the present day victims of political populism will have the playing pitch levelled and will be finally provided with a maintenance grant which is sufficient to allow them to complete their education and perhaps more importantly, which will encourage others from a disadvantaged background to follow suit. Yours, etc.,
Cllr Tony Taaffe, Main Street, Finglas.