Any parents here worried about college fees?

We've got 3 teenagers, 2 hoping to go to college next year and one just coming up behind them and going in 2011. I've a new baby on top on of that and I'm really starting to worry about them reintroducing the fees.

If fees do come back none of mine will be going. We're like so many other families who are just over the limit for any type of grants is as it is if there's not fees and they go we'll have to help keep them etc. If there are fees you can be full sure we will just over the level of those who wont have to pay them, but we still definitely wont be able to afford it. Its something like €6000 a year just for all the fees and then you have give them a hand with rent etc.

It worries me too because I remember the recession on the 80's, every out of work and no one had any qualifications. People would just leave school with nothing and go on the dole.

I had thought at least with this recession there no work but the young people are qualified so they can emigrate or there's hope for them when things start to pick up.

I think if the fees are brought back it'll be back like it was in the 80's with a generation leaving school to go and queue for a living. When the recession does end we''ll have nothing but unqualified people which wont encourage investment by outside companies, and that what Ireland depends on.

Bringing back the fess will save money in the short term but I think long term its bad.

What do ye think?

Is there anyone here who can honestly afford to put their kids through college?
Additional Details
Actually my husband and I both have good jobs (im on maternity leave at the moment). But we're a typical middle class family.

We get get hit by all the tax hikes and levies. We're always just above the cut off for any kind of financial help, but not nearly rich enough to take out big loans to put the kids through college, not if there fees.

Sometimes I feel like we'd be better off on the dole if they bring back fees, so that we'd be able to get grants or something.