Thousands of students marched on the Dáil today in protest at university and college spending cuts, as the issue was debated inside the chamber.
USI President, Mr Will Priestley said students had been "driven onto the streets because of the dramatic rise in the cost of free education in this country, while at the same time severe
cutbacks are greatly impinging on their ability to achieve the grades they deserve."
"The Government has continued to state their commitment to the continued development of a 'skills and education' based workforce, but these statements continue to ring hollow as they withdraw funding in areas that are vital to the education of the future Irish workforce."
Inside the Dáil, Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny said the cutbacks represented a blow to the future of the State.
"Is the Taoiseach aware this morning that thousands of students march on Leinster House because of cutbacks in third-level allocations and facilities?" he asked.
"The registration fee has gone up by €80 to €750.
"The fee for Junior and Leaving Certificate examinations goes up to €82 and €86 respectively and there have been serious cutbacks in the level of facilities available to universities.
"Would you not consider that the future for job creation in the country here depends upon innovation, patenting, design, research and development and that cutbacks in this area are a blow against the future, particularly where young students are involved?"
Mr Ahern defended the Government's handling of the sector and insisted €1.4 billion had been spent on further education this year.
"We've continued to put resources into third-level education," he said.
"In fact over the last few years, practically every third-level institute in the country was a construction site, both putting up new facilities, putting up new libraries, new laboratories, new auditorium facilities and I think the figures are there for everyone to see."
Mr Ahern also said his government had authorised extra funding for research and development, but admitted the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, had earmarked primary schools as most in need of investment.
"I don't think Deputy Kenny would argue against that the minister give priority to first-level education in tighter times," Mr Ahern said.
"But the third-level sector has done enormously well, we have something like 20,000 more people in third-level education than we've had and I think the sector has been quite well looked after."
Mr Ahern said any increases in registration fees were necessary but relatively small.
"We give a top class third-level education in this country at a very low cost," he said.
"The changes we've made over the last seven or eight years make it a very attractive system for students and that's why the numbers are going up every year."
Mr Kenny insisted the capital investment programme in third-level education had fallen dramatically in the last year.
"The conduct of the government in increasing charges and cutting back capital grants, both in the IT and the university sector, makes a mockery of their stated intention of turning this country into the leading knowledge-based centre within Europe over the next 20 years," he said.
However, Mr Ahern said the amount of money allocated to encourage more students to enter third-level education had increased dramatically while he was in office.
"About 44 per cent of students don't have to pay any registration charge at all and I do not think the figure on the other charge is in any way excessive for the top class facilities that are given in this country to third-level students," he added.