Ninth Level Ireland

“A local councillor has called for the establishment of a code of conduct for students who live away from the University of Limerick (UL) campus. Green member Sean Hartigan has held meetings with residents of the Magazine Road in Cork, where a protocol was put in place, and, he says, has seen anti-social behaviour there decrease …” (more)

[Nick Rabbitts, Limerick Leader, 17 July]

“A total of 160 University College Cork students were found to have breached public health guidelines designed to stop the spread of Covid, with 43 of these students temporarily suspended while an investigation was conducted, the Irish Examiner can reveal …” (more)

[Nicole Glennon, Irish Examiner, 16 July]

“Sinn Féin spokesperson on Law Reform, Pa Daly TD, has called for strict enforcement of the Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 which came into operation on 9th July 2021, following a USI bill brought forward by Sinn Féin and 56 other opposition TDs. Teachta Daly said …” (more)

[Sinn Féin, 16 July]

“Five years since the Brexit referendum and more than six months since the final deal between the European Union and the United Kingdom was agreed, the final pieces are falling into place when it comes to cooperation between universities on both sides of the Channel …” (more)

[Thomas Jorgensen, University World News, 15 July]

“Plans for the relaunch of the Ice Dome in Dundalk have emerged this week, with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) being briefed on progress. Education Minister, Simon Harris updated TD’s in the Dail, explaining how the facility was first purchased by (DkIT) as part of a wider sports complex in 2014 …” (more)

[Olivia Ryan, The Argus, 16 July]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, has today confirmed the date for the establishment of the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands and Midwest. Minister Harris today signed an order dissolving Athlone and Limerick institutes of technology, and replacing them with the new Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest …” (more)

[DFHERIS, 16 July]

“Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a university (details supplied) is requesting over €3,000 in up-front payments for on campus accommodation for the coming academic year despite the Government currently enacting legislation to prohibit same; and if he plans to intervene …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 15 July]

“Trinity’s Inspiring Generations philanthropic campaign reached its target of €400 million in donations, Provost Patrick Prendergast has said. The campaign, which was launched in May 2019, is the largest of its kind ever undertaken in Ireland …” (more)

[Emer Moreau, University Times, 16 July]

“An international advisory panel of higher education experts is concluding its review of the Waterford IT (WIT)/IT Carlow (ITC) application for designation as a Technological University (TU) this afternoon. Since Monday, July 5 (and over seven days in total) the advisory panel, appointed by Further Education Minister Simon Harris (FG) has held three different daily sessions for six of those days, extending to one hour each …” (more)

[Dermot Keyes, Waterford News and Star, 15 July]

“Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost per annum to the Exchequer of keeping teenage and young adults in third-level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 13 July]

“Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the projected expenditure from the National Training Fund until 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 13 July]

“Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the annual spend on the student maintenance grant; the estimated cost of increasing all rates by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 13 July]

“Trinity College Dublin has awarded commissions to four artists to create four new sculpture bust portraits representing women scholars for display in the Long Room of the Old Library. The sculptures will represent the scientist Rosalind Franklin, the folklorist, dramatist and theatre-founder Augusta Gregory, the mathematician Ada Lovelace and the pioneering women’s rights advocate Mary Wollstonecraft …” (more)

[Trinity College, 14 July]

“Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris has said that he expects to publish a report on the European Commission’s analysis on the Cassells report this autumn. The report, which sets out three options for the future funding of Ireland’s higher education sector, was sent to the European Commission in January 2019, when the government applied for economic advice on the report …” (more)

[Emer Moreau, University Times, 13 July]

“Trinity’s income from donations and endowments has more than doubled in the past five years, according to a review of Provost Patrick Prendergast’s term in office. The review, which was published yesterday, is ‘an overview of what has been accomplished over the past 10 years’ …” (more)

[Emer Moreau, University Times, 13 July]

“A long-time derelict publicly-owned site in Cork City centre is to be sold to facilitate a €25m student apartment project. City councillors voted last night to dispose of the city council’s leasehold interest in number 96 North Main St to Pantherlee Ltd for €100,000 – half its current market value. The disposal price was agreed over two years ago …” (more)

[Eoin English, Irish Examiner, 13 July]

“The location of Ulster University’s Medical School at Magee has not been finalised despite the belief that it would be located on land next to Derry council headquarters for years. It has been widely reported that the long-awaited School of Medicine would be situated on the Strand Road adjacent to the council building …” (more)

[Garrett Hargan, Derry Now, 12 July]

“Irish Federation of University Teachers calls on Irish Universities to do more to protect and assist Scholars at Risk. Around the globe, courageous scholars who debunk baseless theories and false narratives, and who promulgate research-findings that are inconvenient to those in power, are at risk of being silenced, sometimes through violent means …” (more)

[Anthony Harvey, IFUT, 12 July]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, has today (Monday, 12 July 2021) urged staff and students to volunteer to be part of rapid testing and other testing surveillance systems on college campuses. The project, called UniCoV, will conduct a large-scale analysis of testing technologies for Covid-19 surveillance and prevention in higher education …” (more)

[DFHERIS, 12 July]

“Staff and students in four Irish universities are being urged to volunteer for a pilot antigen testing project that aims to help allow the safe return of college students to campuses. Higher Education Minister Simon Harris is today urging staff and students in NUI Galway, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin and University College Cork to take part in the 16-week pilot scheme …” (more)

[Ciara O’Loughlin, Independent, 12 July]