“YES: As the largest university campus in the country, UCD has very high overheads. They have to be able to keep the lights on from month to month. Therefore, any extra funding they can gain, be it from government funding or Alumni donations, can only make the student experience better …” (more)
[Heather Reynolds and Nathan Young, University Observer, 27 March]
“Further increases to student fees or the introduction of a student loan scheme have been ruled out, the Irish Examiner can reveal. In a ‘highly significant’ development, the Government has rejected two of three recommendations contained in a 2016 report into how a gaping hole in third-level funding is to be filled …” (more)
[Daniel McConnell, Irish Examiner, 27 March]
“The University of Limerick warns that it is facing a challenge over the sustainability of its finances, despite recording a surplus of almost €7m in the year to the end of Sept 2017. New accounts filed by the college show it recorded a surplus of €6.89m in the 12-month period – an annual increase of 5.3%. In a financial report, UL’s chief operating officer and registrar Gerry O’Brien said …” (more)
[Seán McCárthaigh, Irish Examiner, 26 March]
“A chara, – If there aren’t enough places in third level to meet demand I can understand why there are those who think the answer is to put more money into the sector (‘Shortage of college places looms unless State invests in higher education, say campaigners’, News, March 22nd) …” (more)
[Patrick G Burke, Irish Times, 23 March]
“Students gathered this afternoon in Front Square calling on the government to invest more money in higher education, with walkouts taking place on campuses all over the country as part of the Union of Students in Ireland’s (USI) Fund the Future campaign …” (more)
[Aisling Marren, University Times, 21 March]
“Students and staff at third level campuses will walk out of lectures this afternoon to shine a light on the growing crisis in higher education funding. Major demonstrations will take place on the main campuses of UCC and CIT as part of the ‘Fund the Future’ campaign, with students set to walk out of classes at 1pm. Students from several other third level institutions will also strike at lunchtime …” (more)
[Irish Examiner, 21 March]
“Third level students and lecturers across college campuses are set to stage lunchtime protests on Thursday to highlight what they say is a growing crisis in higher education funding. State funding for third level fell by almost 40% as a result of austerity-era cost-cutting between 2008 and 2015 at a time of rising student numbers …” (more)
[Irish Times, 21 March]
“All third-level colleges should be obliged to provide classes on sexual consent for students or risk losing State funding, a Government-commissioned report has recommended. The report follows rising concern over the level of rape and sexual assault on college campuses …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 19 March]
“The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD and the Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD today announced a €13.7m capital allocation towards significant building upgrades in IT Sligo. The funding is being provided under Project Ireland 2040 which commits to exchequer investments of €2.2 billion in Ireland’s higher education infrastructure over the coming decade …” (more)
[Department of Education and Skills, 11 March]
“The presidents of all third-level students’ unions as well as the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) have come together to call for protests to demand increased funding for colleges in Ireland in an open letter …” (more)
[Ross Malervy, University Times, 11 March]
“Sir, – Your article ‘State and students “should bear cost” of third-level education’ (News, March 4th) raises questions as to why the Higher Education Authority decided to ask the public how higher education should be funded and on the methodology of the opinion poll …” (more)
[Joan Donegan, Irish Times, 8 March]
“For the past decade higher education institutions, staff and students have been forced to survive on a mantra from government of ‘live horse and you’ll get grass’. But on 20th February last, the Department of Education and Skills held a novel ‘Stakeholders Consultation on Higher Education’, on the site of the newly launched Technological University of Dublin, to discuss a brighter future …” (more)
[IFUT, 6 March]
“Sports club auditors were tonight handed a document by UCD Staff calling for their support to maintain the student levy at its current rate or else face cuts to student services across campus. The document handed to auditors mentions that certain clubs would face closures, be forced to pay rent for facilities and would see supports for teams reduced if the levy was not continued …” (more)
[Aaron Bowman, College Tribune, 4 March]
“The public believes the State should pay at least half the share of third-level education fees, with a quarter funded by students and their families and the remaining balance from businesses. They are the findings of a poll of more than 1,000 adults conducted by the Higher Education Authority into public perceptions of the third-level system …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 4 March]
“John Halligan (Waterford, Independent): I am grateful for this opportunity to discuss the National Training Fund. This is an important and worthwhile fund and I will give the House as much information as I can on it. Funding is allocated by the Minister for Education and Skills with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in accordance with the provisions of the National Training Fund Act 2000 …” (more)
[Seanad debates, 28 February]
“On Tuesday 29th January, the Director of Governance and Funding for the European Universities Association (EUA), Thomas Estermann said at a seminar organised by the Irish Universities Association (IUA), that despite the increase in funding to Irish universities in 2017 and 2018 after a decades of cuts, ‘the long-term sustainability of the higher education system in Ireland remains an issue …'” (more)
[Dylan O’Neill, University Observer, 19 February]
“Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the breakdown of the €15 million allocation for 2019 for a college (details supplied); the date in 2019 the project will commence; if this will be impacted by the cost overrun with the national children’s hospital; if he has been consulted by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 12 February]
“The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD and Minister for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD today announced that 22 projects across 23 educational institutions have been awarded a total of €23 million under the new Innovation and Transformation Fund …” (more)
[Department of Education and Skills, 8 February]
“Many students will be familiar with the process of applying for a grant from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). It is a long process which demands attention and various details of the student and their families finances. Many students find it a confusing process. Although, not just for students it seems …” (more)
[Taidgh Beahan, The College View, 6 February]
“The IUA welcomes the unanimous vote from Galway City Councillors which calls on the government to act on the Cassells Report and provide a sustainable funding model for third level education. Councillors are well placed to understand the real pressures that students and families are under …” (more)
[IUA, 4 February]
