Ninth Level Ireland

“College has launched an investigation into claims that workers on the Printing House Square site have received hourly rates €2 to €3 lower than legal requirements. Plumbers and apprentices on the site complained about their wages in February to Rob Kelly, a regional organiser for trade union Unite, while he was visiting the site, Kelly told the Dublin Inquirer …” (more)

[Lauren Boland, Trinity News, 31 July]

“Since March, Rob Kelly has been trying to get somebody to care about plumbers and apprentices on a student-accommodation building site being – he says – underpaid. Once finished, Printing House Square should offer 250 beds for students, plans show. The project, which is being overseen by Bennett Construction Limited, is being built on the former site of Oisín House on Pearse Street, for Trinity College Dublin …” (more)

[Aura McMenamin, Dublin Inquirer, 31 July]

“More than 140 residents in Limerick are objecting to the development of a student accommodation, which would accommodate 300 students, from going ahead. Cloncaragh Investments Ltd lodged an application directly to An Bord Pleanála last month under the Strategic Housing Development framework – meaning it can bypass the local authority and go straight to An Bord Pleanála …” (more)

[TheJournal.ie, 3 July]

“Mayor of Clare Cathal Crowe has described the University of Limerick’s plan for LGBT-only housing as ‘retrograde’. Earlier this month, our sister newspaper, the Limerick Leader exclusively revealed the plans by the college to provide on-campus accommodation exclusively for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning or intersex (LGBTQ) …” (more)

[Nick Rabbitts, Limerick Leader, 31 July]

“Secondary school principals say the findings of a review into the senior cycle support its calls for including continuous assessment as part of a reformed Leaving Cert. On Tuesday, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) published the findings of its interim review of the senior cycle, based on consultations with more than 2,500 students and hundreds of parents and teachers across 41 schools …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 30 July]

“Sir, – Tom Cooper (Letters, July 29th) does not explain who should do the removing of royal prefixes attached to institutions by royal charter prior to independence, and in some cases prior to the union. Most, like the Royal Irish Academy, are independent and continue to serve the whole island of Ireland, even if their headquarters are in the Republic …” (more)

[Letters, Irish Times, 31 July]

“Minister for Health Simon Harris TD has today published the General Scheme of the National Research Ethics Committees Bill confirming plans to develop a streamlined, regulated and fit-for-purpose model for the ethical review of health research projects. The Bill will modernise the current system, will support more consistent and more efficient decisions for research studies and will mean better results for patients …” (more)

[Department of Health, 30 July]

“Students from outside Europe who live in the greater Dublin area will be able to renew their immigration registration through a new online system from August 26th. Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan announced plans on Monday to replace the current system which requires Dublin-based non-EEA students to present in person at the Burgh Quay Registration Office of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) …” (more)

[Jade Wilson, Irish Times, 30 July]

“Many students think Irish should become an optional subject for the Leaving Cert as a review of senior cycle education uncovers mixed views on keeping Gaeilge compulsory. Parents would also like to see students have the option to focus on five exam subjects instead of seven. Many students believe all subjects should be optional. The finding is included in a review of the existing senior cycle …” (more)

[Jess Casey, BreakingNews.ie, 29 July]

“Then Minister for Education Joe McHugh this week postponed the creation of Ireland’s second technological university until early 2020, alarm bells may have sounded for some in the higher education sector. For others, though, the news that Cork IT and IT Tralee are not yet ready to merge – despite provisional plans to do so this year – will have come as no surprise …” (more)

[University Times, 28 July]

“Sir, – The proposed conferring of university status on the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland is perhaps an opportune time to reflect on the appropriateness of the continued use of ‘royal’ prefixes by a large number of Ireland-based institutions …” (more)

[Tom Cooper, Irish Times, 29 July]

“On Friday, the government proudly announced that 6,691 student beds have been created in Ireland since 2016 as part of its National Student Accommodation Strategy. What the government did not deign to mention, however, is that the vast majority of this accommodation is expensive enough to give the average student heart palpitations …” (more)

[University Times, 28 July]

“The former president of GMIT, Dr Fergal Barry, was engaged in a lengthy dispute with the governing body of the college before his resignation. Dr Barry resigned in May after an extended period on leave, but no reason was given for his departure …” (more)

[Galway Bay FM, 28 July]

“More money is needed so our universities are not left to crumble. Third-level funding stands at €138m less than what is needed to cater for our rapidly expanding student numbers. But where should the money come from? And how many graduates do we need? Isn’t it time to question our obsession with herding every young person off to college at the taxpayers’ expense? …” (more)

[Lorraine Courtney, Independent, 29 July]

“Less than 7% of purpose-built student accommodation developed in Dublin since 2016 is available for less than €840 per month. The government today announced that 6,691 student beds have been created in Ireland since 2016, as part of its National Student Accommodation Strategy …” (more)

[Donal MacNamee, University Times, 26 July]

“6,691 PBSA Bed Spaces Completed by End Q2, 2019. Continued progress towards Student Accommodation goals. The Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD and the Minister of State with special responsibility for Housing and Urban Development, Damien English TD today, as part of Project Ireland 2040, released the end Q2 2019 progress report …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 26 July]

“The Irish Times is looking to speak with third-level students who rent accommodation or are seeking somewhere to rent for the upcoming academic year. This week, with many third-level students having already begun the search for a place to stay …” (more)

[Irish Times, 26 July]

“Third-level funding stands at €138m less than what is needed to cater for rapidly expanding student numbers, Ireland’s seven universities have warned. Despite increasing by €189m since 2015, inadequate State funding is directly impacting Irish higher-level education ‘as evidenced by a fall in international rankings’, according to the Irish Universities Association (IUA) …” (more)

[Jess Casey, Irish Examiner, 26 July]

The Irish Universities Association (IUA) is today launching its pre-budget submission for 2020 calling on the government to support Ireland’s universities to underpin the talent, research and innovation required for today’s knowledge economy and the growth in student numbers …” (more)

[IUA, 25 July]

“The Department of Education has insisted that plans for sweeping reforms to the regulation of third level institution will not undermine the autonomy of universities. Minister of State for higher education Mary Mitchell O’Connor has published detailed legislative proposals for the reform of the 50-year-old Higher Education Authority Act …” (more)

[Irish Times, 25 July]