I welcome the Progressive Democrats to the list of parties opposed to the re-introduction of third level fees. While this explosion of opposition is very welcome, I wonder where that party was when registration fees were increased by 69% and when the schools building programme descended into chaos. As the Taoiseach has given his backing to the Minister for Education and Science, Fianna Fáil is now the only party in the House that is a proponent of the re-introduction of third level fees. Leaked reports indicate that these fees might be in the order of €8,000 per student. The Taoiseach has given his backing to the Fianna Fáil Minister for Education and Science on this. One Minister of State supports fees for those earning more than €75,000.

The parents of 50,000 students starting their leaving certificate exams in the next few weeks are under a cloud of uncertainty as to whether this will happen and whether they will have access to a third level college when this is over. In the middle of this unseemly row we are told that the Government parties have not even discussed this matter. They have not been briefed either officially or unofficially and there has been no discussion about the matter at Cabinet despite the fact that the dogs in the street are talking about it. On television programmes, both parties fight about this issue publicly.

This is a matter of the gravest concern to thousands of parents and students. The time has come to put an end to this matter. Will the Taoiseach put an end to this charade and the associated speculation? Will he come clean on the issue and tell the people that the Government has no intention of re-introducing third level fees and that it will abandon this proposal forthwith?

Hear, hear.

While I do not have much to add to what I said last week, I will repeat a few matters. No decision has been taken to re-introduce fees for third level education. The review, which the Minister has been undertaking into access to and funding of third level education, is not merely about one matter. That is almost complete. The Minister will bring the matter before Government shortly and we will discuss it. There is no proposal before Government yet. As in all reviews or examinations, a Minister carries out the work within his or her Department, presents it to the Cabinet and circulates it to Departments, Ministers give their views and then there is a discussion and a decision. The process is always the same.

During last year the Department of Education and Science spent a total of €380 million on third level student support. Free third level fees cost €240 million last year and the balance was spent on maintenance grants for qualifying students. The Minister for Education and Science asked his Department to undertake a full review of this expenditure programme to assess its effectiveness. That is going on. He is looking at public spending under his Department's various programmes. The abolition of tuition fees did not achieve the stated aim of assisting those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. As we know and as the Minister has said, the proportion of people from low socio-economic groups at higher education is only one fifth of what it is in the higher socio-economic groups. The Minister is, of course, conscious that examinations are coming up and that people are doing examinations who will be going to third level next year. As I stated last week and as the Minister has said, the vast majority of people on normal incomes will not be affected one way or the other, regardless of what the Minister brings forward. When the Minister brings forward his proposals and the Cabinet has dealt with them, an announcement will be made in the normal way.

The Taoiseach has again refused to answer the question. The rainbow Government abolished third level fees. I had the honour of being a member of that Government. They were abolished to reduce economic pressure on parents and guardians of students and to open up greater access to third level education for those from disadvantaged areas. Fine Gael, the Labour Party, Sinn Féin, the Green Party, the Independents, the Progressive Democrats and a significant element of the Taoiseach's party are opposed to this measure. This means that the Taoiseach and the Minister for Education and Science are the main proponents of this revenue-generating scheme and that this is a Government of broken promises and panic.

In view of the concern and anxiety of thousands of students who are due to sit the leaving certificate in a few weeks time, and their parents, as well as those who are currently in the system, will the Taoiseach tell the House and the people that the Government has no intention of reintroducing third level fees, irrespective of what the Minister for Education and Science brings forward and that he will, at least, bring about a situa tion where equality of opportunity applies in a free education system? The Taoiseach has failed to look after primary and secondary schools and he is now using the thin end of the wedge, as Senator O'Rourke said in the Seanad, to screw the rest of the population as well.

I am not sure if Deputy Kenny is speaking for other parties. However, the Deputy and his party are even more efficient than usual in opposing every proposal. This time they are opposing a proposal although they do not know what it is.

Does the Taoiseach know what it is?

That is really good. No matter what comes out of the proposal they will be able to say they were consistently against it. We will wait.

That is a poor performance.

Are the Progressive Democrats against it as well?

I remind Deputy Durkan that this is Leaders' Questions.

The Minister is undertaking and completing a review of access to third level education and of how best to spend his resources. That is a prudent thing for a Minister to do. He will bring his proposals to Government and when the Government has made its decision it will be announced. I am sure the Minister will take into account the fact that, no matter what he does, Deputy Kenny will oppose it.

Will the Taoiseach demonstrate some leadership for the first time in his life? There are kids up and down the country waiting to sit their leaving certificate who want to know if they will be able to get access to third level education. The Taoiseach is the leader of the Government. Can he put an end to the unseemly public debate and squabbling between Ministers and among his own party? What is the truth of the situation? Are we going to have the reintroduction of third level fees or not?

I am surprised that if the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Noel Dempsey, could not face down Deputy Healy-Rae in the last Dáil he thinks he can face down Deputy McDowell in this one. One thing is clear – either Deputy Noel Dempsey or Deputy McDowell will come out of this with zero credibility. Is this like the situation last year when we could not see the "Woods" through the JCBs? Both have now vanished.

What is the truth of this matter of third level fees? The Taoiseach seems to say there will be an income threshold of several hundred thousand euro. His brother, Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, says the limit will be fixed at about €75,000. Which is closer to the truth? Is there any truth in the leak to The Irish Times yesterday? Are fees going to be introduced at approximately €8,000 or €4,000? It is important that the Taoiseach, as Head of Government, puts an end to this uncertainty so that people know where they stand and so that students may sit their examinations free from anxiety that ought not impede their progress in those examinations. What is the answer to Deputy Kenny's question? Is the Taoiseach going to reintroduce fees for third level education or is he not?

I am sorry if I repeat myself but no decision has been taken to reintroduce fees for third level education. There is a review into access for people who are doing the leaving certificate this year. I wish the House was as concerned about people who will be doing their leaving certificate this year and who, under present arrangements, have no opportunity to access third level education. As we know, 97% of the children of people in higher managerial groups attend third level and the corresponding figures for the lower socio-economic groups is 21%. In the lowest socio-economic group the figure is 5%.

What is the Taoiseach's own opinion?

The Minister for Education and Science has, for some months, been examining the €380 million that is, at present, being spent on supports for third level students. The free fees element of that is €240 million. The Minister is looking at that. He has examined what has happened in other countries, he has looked at a range of proposals and he will bring forward proposals. When those proposals are brought forward everyone is entitled to express a view in every political party, including my own, on what they would like to see. The Minister will take all of that into account—

And back down.

I will follow my own and the Cabinet's responsibility. The issue will be circulated within Departments, Ministers will give their observations, the matter will come before Government, a decision will be made soon and that will be communicated. That is the proper procedure.

Is it the Taoiseach's view that only people earning an income in excess of several hundred thousand euro ought to be subject to a fee, if reintroduced? Has he figures for the number of taxpayers paying more than €100,000 or €150,000, not to mention several hundred thousands, and how many of them would be likely to have students in third level education? What is the Government's position in a country where, if one puts one's money into an SSIA one attracts a 25% bonus, if one puts it into a holiday home one gets tax relief, if one buys a stallion one does not have to pay any tax, but if one puts one's children into third level education this Government screws one?

What is the attitude of the Government on a fundamental question in a modern economy that requires the skills honed in third level education in order to maintain its economic potential for the future? Is the Government going to reintroduce fees or not? What is the Taoiseach's view? We know the views of the Minister for Education and Science, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Tánaiste and the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Noel Ahern. We know the views of would-be Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, and the views of a clutch of dissatisfied backbenchers. Does the Taoiseach have a view on this?

In the past few years the Government has put enormous resources into school building, curricula and staffing numbers. We have improved funding for third level education by hundreds of billions of euro.

This is history.

Anything but an answer.

It is regrettable that Members opposite have no interest in examining the sad plight of those from socially disadvantaged areas who have no opportunity of getting into the educational system.

The changes made in 1996 did nothing to improve their lot. It is clear the Opposition parties do not give two hoots about those people.

Answer the question.

They have no concern for those who cannot access third level education.

Is there any chance of an answer?

As I stated last week, the Opposition parties know well that whatever decision is made, it is highly unlikely that there will be large numbers of the middle class or those on relatively good salaries paying anything.

No-one will have to pay so.

The Government will make a decision when a review has been properly carried out and put before us. It will not be made off the top of our heads or based on whatever comes into people's minds. That is not a review and we are not going to do that.