Universities meet minister over fees

The heads of the country's universities met Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe today to voice what they say are grave concerns at the impact of cutbacks in the sector.

The universities support the return of fees for students in the form of loans to be paid back after graduation.

Minister O'Keeffe also supports a return to fees.

But the universities have warned that any revenue from fees must be additional to current state funding.

Yesterday, several hundred students from colleges in Limerick staged a march in Limerick city centre to protest at any plans to re-introduce third level fees.