The Tánaiste told the Irish Universities Association that changes to fees or increases in grants are not the first priority of government.
John Walshe, who worked as an advisor to the former Education Minister Ruairi Quinn, says it's a political no-brainier to reduce fees bit it might not be in the best interest of universities:
"If they don't do they'll be under pressure from the opposition who would promise to do everything they can to reduce the fees if and when they get into office. But I think what the Tanaiste was saying though is there's no point in reducing fees unless you also substantially increase the the core funding to higher education."
