There has been a great deal of upset within universities, particularly among students, about the possibility of reintroducing third level fees. Perhaps the Minister was thinking out loud when he raised this. When fees were abolished by the then Minister for Education, Niamh Breathnach, universities were less than enthusiastic because they could see that they would not be in a position to increase fees as they would be beholden to the Government. This is what transpired and there is a considerable shortfall in many disciplines because the fees support provided by the Government for third level institutions has remained static. This has resulted in an increase in the number of students at lectures and a reduction in the number of staff employed while certain posts have been frozen until funding can be provided to fill them.