The prospect of raising college fees will be back on the agenda at a major conference on education funding today.
University bosses say there is a need for urgent action to address the growing crisis in third level education.
Funding options to be looked at include more investment from industry, private donations as well as student fees.
Currently students pay 2750 euro a year in registration fees which will rise to 3000 next September.
Since 2008 successive governments have cut college funding by one third.
