Dempsey urged not to bring back college fees

REINTRODUCING college fees could harm the prospects of improved access to third level education, the head of Irish universities has warned.

Dr Séamus Smyth chair of the Conference of Heads of Irish Universities, (CHIU) said there was not enough evidence that the free fees scheme has prevented people from disadvantaged backgrounds going to college.

He said the possibility of bringing back fees, being considered in a government review of third level funding, could prove regressive.