The Education Minister has told Irish 3rd-level institutions to make 'painful' cuts or the Department will do it for them. 

Ruairi Quinn says there is too much 'doubling up of courses' between institutions and that greater productivity is needed across the sector.

He also announced that the government is not currently considering a student-loan scheme.

Large crowds of students protested outside the meeting against rising fees and the backlog of grants. 

The Minister said this morning there is too much doubling-up of courses like engineering and the sciences, not enough cooperation between initiations and that changes to the academic calendar are needed.

He admits some changes will be painful but are necessary.

"If they themselves - with the local knowledge that they have in a way that we could never  possess - to make these decisions for themselves, and it will be painful" he said.

"But if they don't make them by the end of the year, they will be made for them by me on the advice of the (Higher Education Authority)" he added.

Budget measures

When asked if the government would be introducing a so-called graduate tax student loan scheme in Budget 2013 the Minister replied "No - I'm not actively considering any measure at the present time".

"My focus is on looking at the overall landscape, looking at duplication and possible synergies and all those kinds of things - so that we get a more accurate picture of what the sustainable cost will be" he added.

The meeting came against the backdrop of protests by dozens of students as a backlog of student grants still lingers.