Ninth Level Ireland

“The Irish and British governments are working hard to protect existing arrangements between the two countries in the areas of higher education and research, but much depends on the final Brexit deal. Earlier this month, UK Secretary of State for Education Damian Hinds visited Dublin to reinforce the close relationship between the two countries …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 24 September]

“Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of each €100 reduction in the student contribution charge at third level …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 20 September]

“The Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, TD, and the Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD, today invited expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced persons to fill 4 vacancies on the Senate of the National University of Ireland. The five year term of office of the Senate expires on 31st October 2022 …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 20 September]

“Additional funding and acknowledgement of staff concerns will be vital to the success of the country’s first technological university, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) has told Education Minister Richard Bruton. The concerns were raised in a letter supporting the recommendations of a panel of international experts to allow three institutes of technology in Dublin to create the first technological university (TU) …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 20 September]

“Irish universities are seeking more freedom and flexibility to hire staff in order to compete with Europe’s top-performing colleges. The aims are contained in a new charter which the State’s seven universities say will underpin the future of third-level education …” (more)

[The Charter itself is here]
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 17 September]

“Government prioritizes teaching of foreign languages in context of Brexit. €15,000 for schools to offer school exchanges. Upskilling opportunities for teachers and new website launched as resource for schools, students and teachers. The Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD today (17th September 2018) launched a campaign to raise awareness of the importance of foreign languages and announced new funding for teacher upskilling and school language exchanges …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 17 September]

“Enterprise Ireland education mission to include the signing of several new bilateral agreements between Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Malaysian and Indonesian universities. The Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD, will today lead a five day Enterprise Ireland education mission to Indonesia (17th and 18th September 2018) and Malaysia (19th-21st September 2018) …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 15 September]

“Capital investment in higher education is to be nearly trebled as part of Project Ireland 2040. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, and Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton and Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor announced today a large increase in education investment under Project Ireland 2040, a €116 billion investment and development plan …” (more)

[Shauna Bannon Ward, Trinity News, 14 September]

“70% increase in school building budget. Capital investment in Higher Education to be almost trebled. First dedicated capital budget for Further Education and Training. The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD, the Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton TD, the Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD and the Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development John Halligan TD today …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 14 September]

“Fiona O’Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the decline in Irish university ratings in international rankings; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 7 September]

“Fianna Fáil Education spokesperson, Thomas Byrne TD says that the latest OECD Education at a Glance Report clearly illustrates that investment in education in Ireland is way below what it should be, despite Government rhetoric …” (more)

[Fianna Fáil, 11 September]

“The Department of Education has said that it will continue to offer a scheme to provide third level financial supports to eligible asylum seekers, with applications being accepted from today. The terms of the scheme are the same as in previous years …” (more)

[Laura Fletcher, RTÉ News, 7 September]

“Universities will no longer lobby the government to introduce a student loan scheme, marking a complete U-turn in their approach to the higher education funding crisis. In an interview with The University Times, the head of the Irish Universities Association (IUA), Jim Miley, said that universities are becoming ‘agnostic on loans’ …” (more)

[Eleanor O’Mahony, University Times, 6 September]

“The Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, TD, has today published a comprehensive independent review of the National Training Fund. The National Training Fund (NTF) was established by the National Training Fund Act 2000 to raise the skills of those in employment, to give relevant skills to those preparing for employment and to support lifelong learning …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 17 August]

“Minister for Education Richard Bruton has said officials will examine whether there are ‘lessons to be learned’ from the volume of students who failed ordinary level maths in this year’s Leaving Cert exam. However, he played down concerns over the issue and said the proportion of failures at ordinary level was linked to greater numbers taking on the higher level paper …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 15 August]

“The announcement of ring-fenced funding for multi-campus institutions is positive news for GMIT, according to Galway East TD Sean Canney. The Minister of State for OPW and Flood Relief welcomed the funding, which will amount to an additional €250,000 per annum per institution …” (more)

[Micheál Ó Maoileoin, Galway Daily, 20 July]

“The Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton, TD, and the Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD, today Monday 30th July launched the new Higher Education and Innovation Fund for which up to €5m is available for investment in 2018. The innovation fund is part of the additional €100m which the government are investing in higher education since 2016 …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 30 July]

“The joint application for university status by institutes of technology in Carlow and Waterford will be submitted to the Government by the end of September but no timeframe has been set out by the Minister for Education Richard Bruton for approval of the plan …” (more)

[Conor Kane, Irish Examiner, 23 July]

“The sod will officially be turned on a new multi-million euro sports campus for IT Carlow today. The Minister for Education, Richard Bruton is doing the honours this morning on the South Sports Campus which will be built over 31 acres on the Kilkenny Road in the town …” (more)

[KCLR96FM News, 17 July]

“The State’s first technological university – based on the merger of Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), IT Tallaght and IT Blanchardstown – is set to be the country’s biggest third level institution …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 17 July]