A Donegal TD has described giving loans to needy students for their third-level education as the commercialisation of education.
Student loans — which would have to be repaid after graduation — has been mooted as one way to pay for third-level education.
Eduction Minister Richard Bruton has confirmed in the Dail to Independent Deputy Thomas Pringle that a student loan model used in Australia has been suggested.
But Deputy Pringle says some of those students graduate with debts of up to €50,000.
However, Minister Bruton says doing nothing is not an option when it comes to future funding of third level education, and he hopes to have agreement on the issue of student loans by the time of the next budget.
