Dempsey refuses to rule out fees

EDUCATION Minister Noel Dempsey yesterday refused to rule out the reintroduction of college fees.

Mr Dempsey also admitted that the Government had not done enough to promote equality in the system after figures revealed 60 schools in largely deprived areas had a dropout rate of more than 50%.

Announcing the details of a major OECD review of the university sector, the Minister said: “Certainly the issue of funding of third level education is going to be an ongoing debate right into the future.”