The Minister for Education, Mr Noel Dempsey, has been criticised for failing to rule out the reintroduction of third-level fees.
In an interview in The Irish Timestoday the Minister said he could give no assurance to parents and to students that college fees, abolished in 1994, would not be returning at some stage for those who can afford to pay them.
Fine Gael's spokesperson on Education, Ms Olwyn Enright, said: "Any decision to reintroduce third-level education fees would be a retrograde step. The cost of attending third level, in terms of maintenance, accommodation, travel and books is already difficult for many to reach".
Labour Party education spokesperson, Mr Joe Costello, today condemned Minister Dempsey for "continuing to threaten tens of thousands of students with the reintroduction of third level fees".
Mr Costello said the reintroduction of fees would be "socially regressive.
"The right to education is a fundamental right. The abolition of third level fees by my colleague, Niamh Bhreathnach in 1995 was the most radical measure ever taken to open up third-level education to those previously without access to it". Mr Colm Jordan, Union of Students in Ireland president, said Mr Dempsey had only a few weeks ago stated "he was as likely to bring back fees as he was to double the grant [maintenance].
"Now we hear that he may introduce fees for those who can afford them. What is he going to do three weeks from now?" asked Mr Jordan.