Labour faces backlash in refusal to rule out fees

THE Labour Party could face a political backlash as Education Minister Ruairi Quinn refuses to rule out a return to tuition fees despite pre-election promises to oppose them.

The 20-year higher education strategy of the expert group chaired by Colin Hunt last January called for some kind of contribution by students towards their degrees.

In his first response to the Hunt report since taking office, Mr Quinn said he will not make any decision on funding until he can weigh up the need to maintain quality and increase student numbers, but also to properly fund the third-level sector.