“Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention been drawn to the steep increase in on-campus student accommodation costs in UCD; if he has had any engagement with UCD or the university’s student union on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 17 June]
“James O’Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will report on the return of English language schools in view of the reopening of international travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 17 June]
“The six victims of the Berkeley balcony tragedy are being remembered today on the sixth anniversary of the tragedy that occurred when the five Irish students and an Irish American were celebrating a 21st birthday …” (more)
[Conor Feehan, Independent, 16 June]
“Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the process that will be undertaken by his Department for the procurement of antigen tests for third-level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 16 June]
“Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider an amendment to the Technological Universities Act 2018 for section 12(j) to be amended to increase the number of education and training board nominees onto each technological university’s governing body from one to three nominees …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 16 June]
“The President of the University of Limerick has accepted that ‘best practice’ wasn’t adhered to regarding the purchase of the former Dunnes Stores building in Limerick city centre. UL has asked consultants KPMG to investigate its purchase of the former store at Sarsfield Street for around €8m in 2019 …” (more)
[David Hurley, Limerick Leader, 17 June]
“The Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe TD; the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD; and the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD have today (Thursday) announced that €75 million of financing has been successfully sourced from the Council of Europe Bank (COEB) for purpose-built Student Accommodation. This is an important plank in the supply expansion being targeted by Government as part of the Rebuilding Ireland initiative and of the National Student Accommodation Strategy …” (more)
[MerrionStreet.ie, 17 June]
“The University of Limerick has asked consultants KPMG to investigate the purchase by the university of land in Limerick city centre known as the Dunnes Stores site, the Public Accounts Committee has been told …” (more)
[Emma O Kelly, RTÉ News, 17 June]
“Minister for Higher and Further Education Simon Harris has said the opening of colleges is not contingent on the success of the UniCov scheme, which is a pilot antigen testing programme. Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Harris said the trial scheme will involve 8,000 staff and students taking part in rapid testing over the summer months …” (more)
[RTÉ News, 17 June]
“LYIT President Paul Hannigan says that the IT cannot refuse entry to any of their courses based on a student’s vaccination status. Speaking to Greg Hughes on this morning’s Nine Til Noon Show, Hannigan said that while the college has no definite plan in place at the moment, it has received legal advice …” (more)
[Highland Radio, 17 June]
“Trinity must provide occasional staff with the terms and conditions of their employment within five days of their work beginning, according to a new policy passed at College Board today. As part of the terms and conditions, occasional staff will be considered employees of the university …” (more)
[Emer Moreau and Cormac Watson, University Times, 16 June]
“Trinity spent a total of €42 million on acquiring new buildings since 2015, including the €21 million purchase of the Connaughton’s Building in the Grand Canal Quay, the Business Post reported today. Aside from the Connaughton’s Building, Trinity also spent €16 million on Stack B last year and nearly €2 million on the Iveagh Grounds in 2017. It also bought properties on Fenian St and Clare St …” (more)
[Cormac Watson, University Times, 16 June]
“Ireland’s top two universities have spent almost €50 million buying property in the past five years, new figures show. Between them, Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and University College Dublin (UCD) have purchased 11 properties in the capital with a total value of €49.1 million …” (more)
[Donal MacNamee, Business Post, 16 June]
“The property company which operates student accommodation on behalf of NUI Galway recorded a €3.4 million increase in turnover in 2019. However, Atalia Student Residences DAC (Designated Activity Company), which is owned by the university, recorded a loss for the year of €6,300 …” (more)
[Enda Cunningham, Connacht Tribune, 14 June]
“Mayo Fianna Fáil Senator Lisa Chambers has called on the Minister for Higher Education, Simon Harris to intervene and stop University College Dublin charging €8,059 rent for student accommodation for the coming academic year …” (more)
[Connaught Telegraph, 16 June]
“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today (Tuesday) published the plan for a safe return to on-site activity for September 2021. Higher and further education and training, and research, are essential activities, and the plan for the 2021/22 academic year is for mainly on-site activity for all students, learners, and staff …” (more)
[MerrionStreet.ie, 16 June]
“The IUA warmly welcomes the publication of the Plan for a safe return for further and higher education and research in 2021/22 by Minister Simon Harris. Staff and students in our universities eagerly anticipate a safe return to as comprehensive a range of on-campus activities as possible for the next academic year, including large scale teaching …” (more)
[IUA, 15 June]
“Sinn Féin spokesperson for Further and Higher Education Rose Conway-Walsh TD has welcomed the government’s announcement that further and higher education campuses will be open in September but called on the Minister to provide greater clarity. The Mayo TD said …” (more)
[Sinn Féin, 15 June]
“The Union of Students in Ireland welcomes the plan published today, which aims to re-open campuses and have most third-level activity back on site from the start of the new academic year. Along with getting students back into lectures and classrooms, that the plan also allows for the reopening of libraries, cafes, canteens and bars, as well as the restarting of club, society and sporting activity is particularly welcome …” (more)
[USI, 15 June]
“Thousands of international students are calling for their visas to be extended because they have not been able to fullfil ‘a vital part’ of their reason for studying in Ireland – the chance to work in graduate level employment. The Third Level Graduate Programme allows Irish educated non-EEA graduates remain here after their studies, for the purpose of seeking graduate level employment. The graduates are generally permitted to work here for between one and two years …” (more)
[Sharon Tobin, RTÉ News, 15 June]
