307 million euro in funding for the higher education sector over the coming years has been unveiled by the government.
A new policy document outlines the model of funding for the sector, a long awaited commitment since the 2016 Cassells report.
The state will choose the model of the additional exchequer funding, as well as a reduced student contribution charge.
Higher Education Minister Simon Harris says the current level of fees of €3,000 is too high, but would not commit to how much it will decrease by.
"I'd love to pre-judge the budget and I'd love to be able to say I'm going to this, but I can't.
"But what I can do, and have done with Minister Collins, is agitate for a change in government policy, which we have received approval for yesterday and are now publishing.
"That we want to see downward pressure, reduction in costs for hard working families fore their students, for their kinds and that's what we want.
"Judge us not on what we say, but on what we do."
