College students unlikely to face fees this autumn

STUDENTS starting third-level courses next autumn are unlikely to be liable for any new fees or loan system expected to be announced shortly by the Government.

The strongest indication yet of when any new student contribution scheme will be introduced was delivered by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe yesterday.

He said he will make a recommendation to the cabinet on what should be done in the coming weeks, but it would be a matter for the Government to decide whether any new mechanism would be put in place for next September or autumn 2010.