Loans system may replace free college fees

EDUCATION Minister Noel Dempsey has given further hints that a loans system may replace free fees for third-level students.

However, he also said he will await a review of student support spending before asking the Government to decide on the issue.

Mr Dempsey told the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) annual congress in Killarney, Co Kerry, that he could not justify continuing to spend millions of euro from limited resources to meet the cost of fees for the children of those in the highest income brackets.