FF still mulling college fees

THE possible reintroduction of college fees will still be considered by Government despite the opposition of Fianna Fáil members, Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe said yesterday.

The party’s ard fheis voted at the weekend in support of a motion to keep the free fees scheme in place for third-level students. But the minister insisted he must push ahead with plans to put various options to his cabinet colleagues, and he expects to put a recommendation to them on a particular option by early April.

“It is important that we would be informed by the organisation [Fianna Fáil] what their views would be,” he told the Irish Examiner.