UCC head says fees debate has to move on

A debate about more than just student loans is needed to advance decisions about funding third level, says a university president.

The issue has been stalled at a political level as no recommendation on how to boost higher education funding has emerged from the Oireachtas education committee. It had been asked by Education Minister Richard Bruton 18 months ago to come up with proposals.

Mr Bruton secured staggered increases in employer input into a national training fund in the last budget, but the income will only provide a fraction of the extra €600m the system needs annually by 2020.