“Minister McHugh has made clear that Fine Gael and the Government will not introduce student loans and will not increase fees. So, that tells us what the Minister will not do, we now need to hear what he and Fine Gael will do to solve the long-accepted funding crisis …” (more)
[IUA, 12 August]
“Education Minister Joe McHugh has been told he must come up with a solution to the shortfall in third-level funding after he ruled out hiking students’ fees for the next five years. The call comes as universities are looking for an extra €117m in State funding for next year to pay for their basic operations …” (more)
[Kevin Doyle, Independent, 12 August]
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 Union of Students in Ireland (USI) have released their pre-Budget 2020 submission, outlining their demands for increased higher education funding. The costed recommendations cover the major subcategories of higher education funding, such as grants, fees and housing. The general proposals have largely been made by USI before in previous pre-Budget submissions and the media …” (more)
[Aisling Grace, University Times, 19 June]
“‘The next Budget should provide once-off emergency funding from the surge in Corporation tax to address the escalating higher education crisis’, Joan Donegan, General Secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers, said in advance of IFUT’s 2019 Annual Delegate Conference in Dublin, Saturday, May 11th, 2019 …” (more)
[IFUT, 10 May]
“Usually, government policy focuses on reasonably clear policy pathways. We have Programmes for Government, policy documents, Departmental revamps and ‘Ireland 2040’ visions for the future. These policies can be criticised or supported, but at least the strategy is clear. But where is the government’s strategy for higher education? …” (more)
[IFUT, 8 November]
“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has expressed its disappointment with the Government’s budget last week for failing to address the number issues facing the third-level education sector …” (more)
[College Tribune, 19 October]
“We would like to wish Minister Richard Bruton well in his new role. The third level education funding crisis will be the real test for any new Minister in the Department of Education and Skills, and we look forward to working collaboratively and proactively with Deputy McHugh. Minister McHugh’s appointment comes in the aftermath of Budget 2019 …” (more)
[USI, 15 October]
“Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Kathleen Funchion TD has said that students have been completely forgotten in this year’s budget once again. Teachta Funchion said: ‘Year after year, budget after budget, students undertaking third level education are on their own under the current Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil government …'” (more)
[Sinn Féin, 10 October]
“Today’s budget statement sees an overall lift in higher education current expenditure enabled by the increase in the employer contribution under the National Training Levy. It’s not surprising then to see that the focus of the use of this funding is on programmes that are close to enterprise and that can be seen to have tangible economic and societal benefits …” (more)
[Joseph Ryan, THEA, 9 October]
“It is incredible that this year’s Budget set aside €1.5 billion for a future rainy day fund while higher education is drowning in an existential funding crisis that is being ignored, the Irish Federation University Teachers (IFUT) has stated. Joan Donegan, General Secretary of IFUT, said that …” (more)
[Irish Federation of University Teachers, 9 October]
“Increased funding that will bring the Department of Education budget to a record high of €10.7bn next year drew a mixed response, including criticism of the failure to do more to end austerity-era cuts. The €674m includes €147m to meet pension and lump sum costs, a higher than usual allocation at this time …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 10 October]
“There have been claims that Budget 2019 does ‘very little to address the growing crisis in third-level funding’. The Irish Universities Association has said that the extra €57m allotted to them ‘only allows the system to tread water’ and will impact on the education and prospect of the next generation of graduates …” (more)
[Independent, 9 October]
“The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has today criticised Budget 2019 for what it sees as a lack of attention to higher education. The federation noted that ‘it is incredible that this year’s Budget set aside €1.5bn for a future rainy day fund while higher education is drowning in an existential funding crisis that is being ignored’. Budget 2019 was announced this afternoon by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe …” (more)
[Peter Kelly, Trinity News, 9 October]
“A modest increase in school capitation funding and the creation of 1,300 new classroom posts are among the key education measures in Budget 2019. Overall, the education budget is set to increase by 7%, or almost €675 million, to a record sum of €10.8 billion next year. Much of the new funding will go towards keeping pace with our growing school-age population in the form of new buildings, training places and teaching staff …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 9 October]
“Fianna Fáil Education Spokesman Thomas Byrne TD has said today’s Budget 2019 announcement goes little or no way towards transforming the quality of our country’s education system. He said, ‘For the most part, Budget 2019 looks likely to change very little of the poor status quo in education …'” (more)
[Fianna Fáil, 9 October]
“Teachers associations have lashed out at the funding set aside for education as part of Budget 2019. This afternoon, the Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe announced a €10.8bn budget for the Department of Education next year. He said the allocation marks a 6.7% increase on last year …” (more)
[Michael Staines, Newstalk, 9 October]
“The government has done very little to address the growing crisis in third level funding in Budget 2019. The allocation of €57m million in ‘extra’ funding on top of existing commitments on national pay increases, while welcome, only allows the system to tread water. The bulk of the money is ring-fenced for specific purposes and does not deal with the core funding gap …” (more)
[Irish Universities Association, 9 October]
“The government has allocated an extra €150 million to higher education in today’s Budget 2019, amid persistent indecision over the future funding model of the sector. The extra €150 million will go towards research, higher and further education and marks a significant increase on the €47.5 million extra allocated to the sector in last year’s Budget …” (more)
[Eleanor O’Mahony and Aisling Marren, University Times, 9 October]
“According to the 2016 Cassells Report, Higher Education in Ireland requires €600 million a year in funding up until 2024 just to maintain current standards, yet this morning Government have proposed just €300 million investment into HE in Budget 2019 up to 2024 …” (more)
[USI, 9 October]
