Should the free tuition fees scheme be available to foreign students?

The "Free Tuition Fees Scheme" covers first time Irish or other EU undergraduates on approved full-time courses in publicly funded colleges. It does not cover students who may be repeating a year of their degree programme or students who are taking a second undergraduate degree. Opponents argue that foreign students should pay full tuition and should not be subsidized by Irish taxpayers. Proponents argue that offering the programme to international students helps attract skilled workers from other countries to Ireland.