Ministers given deadline for views on third-level fees

Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe has set September 15 as the deadline for his ministerial colleagues to give their views on his proposals for re-introducing third-level fees.

Mr O'Keeffe presented a range of options to the Cabinet in July.

The minister is understood to prefer a loan scheme that would require students to repay their fees once they have graduated and found work.

The Union of Students in Ireland is protesting in Dublin this afternoon against the plan to re-introduce fees, which it says will discourage people from going to college and university.