The President of NUI Galway Students union, is warning that the quality of education will be at risk, and students will be excluded if there is a return to fees.

The Chief executive of the Higher Education Authority, Tom Boland, today warned that Ireland needs to find new ways of paying for third level education.

He's blaming the demand on the system, the cost, and the state of the public finances.

A report on the issue will go to the Department of Education during the summer.

The Union of Students of Ireland yesterday re-iterated its free-fees policy, after a national ballot of students.

NUIG student union President Emmett Connolly says we will not be able to attract international companies, without a highly educated workforce.