Ninth Level Ireland

“Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the €20 million reduction in grants to universities and other institutes of higher education included in the 2013 revised estimates volume published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is external to the €44 million additional savings required by his Department this year; the rationale behind this reduction of grants to universities and institutes of higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 11 June]

“How Ireland’s universities are funded is a source of tension, conflict and debate. Both the State and the universities are seeking the return of tuition fees …” (more)

[Dennis O'Connor, Irish Times, 23 April]

“Minister for Research and Innovation, Sean Sherlock TD, and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, today announced funding, totalling €60million, dedicated to 85 pioneering research initiatives …” (more)

[The Labour Party, 25 January]

“The growing crisis in our university system threatens Ireland’s future development. Rather than tackling it, the Government is denying it exists, and last week’s Budget will make it worse through further cutbacks …” (more)

[Stephen Donnelly, Irish Times, 11 December]

“The country’s universities are increasingly turning to foreign students to bolster their income. Ireland is attracting a growing number of international students – and the universities are getting the major share …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 10 December]

“Education Minister Ruairi Quinn will tell third-level college heads today they must get their houses in order before receiving any extra money to deal with expanding student numbers …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 22 November]

“Education Minister Ruairi Quinn was happy to acknowledge the work of third-level colleges when he paid tribute to them in the Dail this week for doing a good job in the current circumstances …” (more)

[Independent, 22 November]

“Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the per student funding formula or ratio used to calculate the Higher Education Authority grant provided to each HEA funded institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 13 November]

“Sir, – Sidney Altman and his colleagues (October 23rd) highlight the importance of science to the recovery and future development of the EU, and the very real dangers that would follow from possible drastic cuts to the budgets of European-level research funding bodies …” (more)

[Stephen Wills, Irish Times, 29 October]

“The answer is money. The question is how Ireland is going to compete, as it must, with world-class higher education systems, when global league tables throw up disappointing placings for its two top universities …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 4 October]

“Reforms to Irish higher education are gathering pace as universities strive to identify their strengths before the introduction of performance-related funding. The Irish government has asked universities, colleges and institutes of technology to submit institutional reviews by October stating how their activities contribute to national objectives …” (more)

[Jack Grove, Times Higher Education, 27 September]

“Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of funding from his Department to institutes of technology and universities from the State on a college by college basis and under the heading which that funding was made available in the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; if any moneys were returned during these years to the Department as unspent; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 18 September]

“… The accuracy of global rankings is debatable, but three facts are inescapable. Firstly, the trend in Irish universities is a dramatic decline; secondly, international students and staff use these rankings when deciding which universities to attend or teach in; and thirdly, employers use the rankings to inform which universities to recruit from …” (more)

[Stephen Donnelly, Independent, 26 August]

“Ireland risks being ‘cut off’ from EU funding if it fails to support fundamental research, something that would represent a ‘major failure’ for the Government, scientists have warned …” (more)

[Dick Ahsltrom, Irish Times, 22 August]

“Sir, – Ireland’s poor success rate in winning grants from the European Research Council (Business+Technology, August 16th) comes as no surprise to many of us in the Irish scientific community …” (more)

[Peter Gallagher, Irish Times, 22 August]

“Dear President/Provost/Director/Chief Executive: As you are aware, the National Strategy for Higher Education published by Government in early 2011 sets out the broad strategy for the sector up to 2030. A particular objective in the National Strategy is to support improved institutional performance linked to delivery of the national objectives set for higher education. Improved accountability across the sector is also required …” (more, link to consultation document)

[Higher Education Authority, 20 July]

“Sir, – After the head of the European Research Council called into question why Ireland doesn’t have the same levels of success in research as comparable European nations, I wonder if anyone might be able to shed some light …” (more)

[Robert O'Connor, Irish Times, 16 July]

“The government’s determination to squeeze a commercial return from the State’s investment in scientific research may have gone too far. Researchers are warning that the shift in emphasis could threaten the future of Irish science …” (more)

[Dick Ahlstrom, Irish Times, 16 July]

“In one of the great scenes in one of the great television series Homer Simpson is philosophising from his couch as he uses his TV’s remote control to flick aimlessly from channel to channel …” (more)

[Irish Examiner, 10 July]

“Sir, – There is a delicate balance between funding fundamental and applied science. The current Irish science policy of concentrating almost exclusively on the latter assumes that quick economic return comes purely from spin-offs. It forgets where the ideas so ripe for exploitation come from …”(more)

[Ronan McNulty, Irish Times, 7 July]