Talks were held in Dublin today between the Minister for Education, Noel Dempsey, and international experts on shaping the future of third level education in Ireland.
Mr Dempsey met the Education Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to discuss their report on the country's higher education policy.
The study, which was commissioned by the Minister last year, recommends that third level fees be re-introduced.
An OECD team visited Ireland last February and received 88 submissions. Among its members was the man who introduced Australia's fees system, former minister for Education John Dawkins.
The team has now recommended that fees be reintroduced here. Their report says this should be accompanied by a significantly reformed means-tested student support scheme and that a student loan system should be introduced with tax incentives for families who contribute to their children's education.
The OECD report makes many other findings and recommendations, all of which will now be discussed with department officials and the minister.
