O’Keeffe pledges to ‘family-proof’ third-level fees impact

AN expert report on the possible reintroduction of third-level fees should be before cabinet by September.

Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe told the Joint Oireachtas Education Committee work was continuing on cutting costs and boosting revenue across the third-level sector. He said this would include raising funds through philanthropy and in other countries there was direct student contribution. “There are strong equity arguments that those who benefit from higher education and who can afford to contribute to the costs of their higher education should be asked to do so,” he said.

A technical report on the various options is being prepared and the minister said some points had needed to be redrawn in light of the recent supplementary budget.