'Why is education so cheap?': UCC president says honest conversation needed on third-level fees

John O'Halloran said the current €3,000 annual student contribution is lower than some of the fees charged by private secondary schools

UCC President, John O'Halloran: "One of the messages people have said to me, and this won't be popular, but why is education so cheap?"

The presidents of Cork universities UCC and MTU have said third-level education has suffered from underinvestment in recent years and must be improved in order to generate significant returns for the Irish economy and wider society.

Speaking at Cork Chamber's Business Breakfast University College Cork President John O'Halloran and Munster Technological University President Maggie Cusack highlighted the challenges the sector has faced with Ireland at the bottom of European league tables when it comes to investment from the State.