Ninth Level Ireland

“Employers and unions agree that ringfencing a portion of corporate tax or business profits could be a better way to bolster higher education funding than a government proposal to increase employers’ PRSI. The increased contribution has been suggested by Education Minister Richard Bruton and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe through a proposed increase in the National Training Fund (NTF) levy …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 1 June]

“The Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD today (Wednesday) held a half-day forum in Dublin’s Iveagh House on the proposed Exchequer-Employer investment mechanism for Higher Education and Further Education and Training …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 31 May]

“It is surprisingly difficult to get a consistent picture of university income in Ireland over the last decade. Accounting conventions have changed, as have the requirements from the Higher Education Authority in terms of detail. Finally, despite it being half way through 2017 it seems some, many, universities have not managed to get their 2016 or even 2015 accounts up and out …” (more)

[Brian M Lucey, 29 May]

“The Union of Students in Ireland has raised concerns over spending by higher education institutions following recent revelations about severance payments made to senior personnel in the sector. USI president Annie Hoey pointed out that students and the taxpayer fund the higher education institutions and said trust in their governance was ‘crucial’ …” (more)

[Éanna Ó Caollaí, Irish Times, 26 May]

“Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the level of capital investment in institutes of technology is adequate; the progress being made to address the significant capital shortfall and infrastructure deficits which exist across the sector; and his views on best way in which to remedy these …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 24 May]

“David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amounts allocated to each higher education institute in terms of core grant, fees and student contribution in each of the years 2007 to 2016 and to date in 2017, by institute and income category in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 23 May]

“The topic has been back in the news again in recent weeks because of the dissemination of a paper by Shaen Corbet and Charles Larkin, which claims to show that an ICL could not work in Ireland …” (more)

[Aedín Doris, Darragh Flannery and Kevin Denny, The Irish Economy, 24 May]

“As talk turns to leadership races, possible elections and the coronation of a new Taoiseach, one peripheral issue is becoming linked to another, more central issue. Higher education funding – a debate that was around long before the word ‘Brexit’ even existed – is now inextricably linked to what Ireland will look like once the UK leaves the EU …” (more)

[University Times, 21 May]

“An unwillingness by Ireland’s current parliamentary structures to take difficult decisions is demonstrated by the Government’s latest proposal to plug the higher education funding gap with a 40% increase in the levy paid by employers to the National Training Fund (NTF) …” (more)

[Danny McCoy, Independent, 22 May]

“The work done by Peter Cassells and his team, supported by Dr Aedín Doris of Maynooth University and Prof Bruce Chapman of the Australian National University, did an excellent job of highlighting the challenges facing higher education. The sector is in crisis due to several years of budget cuts and asset sweating …” (more)

[Charles Larkin, University Times, 19 May]

“Several universities have tens of millions of euro in private trusts and foundations which they have resisted declaring in their accounts, despite pressure from regulators and the Government. Audits into third-level institutions have also revealed a range of governance issues, such as significant additional payments to staff members and widespread non-compliance with procurement rules …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 16 May]

“The Irish government, via Minister Bruton, is to ‘clamp down’ on essay mills. That trying, in effect, to outlaw d’internet is doomed to failure is indicative of how little sensible focus is exerted on real challenges facing the higher education sector. Here are ten things that are more deserving than essay mills of ministerial press releases, actions, legislation, appearances on morning radio …” (more)

[Brian M Lucey, 15 May]

“A chara, – Under the proposed income-contingent student loan scheme, graduates would take on a debt roughly equal to the size of a 10% deposit on the national average price of a house in Ireland …” (more)

[Letters, Irish Times, 13 May]

“Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the value of additional funding received by universities or other third level institutions for the purposes of improving access, including premium level of funding for target students; the institutions in receipt of such funding; the amount received by each institution over the past five years and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 9 May]

“Recent political events in the UK, US and France call attention to the risks of the neglect of higher education. In the case of the Brexit vote, for instance, the higher the level of education, the higher the EU support with university graduates. In fact, only three of the 35 areas where more than half of residents had a degree voted to leave the EU …” (more)

[Tom Collins, Irish Times, 10 May]

“As a member of the Oireachtas Education Committee and Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Education and Skills, I have been closely monitoring the development of the debate in relation to income-contingent loans. At the outset, I must state that my own ideological viewpoint and that of my party, is that education is a fundamental right …” (more)

[Carol Nolan, University Times, 9 May]

“The future funding of third level education is one of the most pressing problems facing Irish society but it is one with which our political system seems unable to deal. Since the short sighted and regressive abolition of third level fees in 1997, the third level sector has found itself increasingly under pressure and the cuts in funding arising from the austerity of the financial crisis years have added to the difficulties …” (more)

[Irish Times, 9 May]

“Most people would agree in principle that taxpayers’ money should not be used to subsidise private gain. Yet, to a very great extent, that is what we do in Ireland when it comes to third level education …” (more)

[Dan O’Brien, Independent, 7 May]

“The Co Waterford woman who heads the University of Oxford has said Irish universities’ slide down international rankings is a direct consequence of declining investment. Prof Louise Richardson said the issue of university fees was a very difficult one for politicians but all societies must have a conversation about who pays for third-level education …” (more)

[Mary Minihan, Irish Times, 8 May]

“A chara, – The letter (May 5th) by student union leaders, and others, objecting to an income-contingent loan system for higher education, misses many important facts. The prospect of paying tuition costs of €16,000 or €20,000 for a degree may indeed seem high. However, the student would pay nothing up-front …” (more)

[Letters, Irish Times, 8 May]