- NEWS
‘Enrika: Sweet as sugar and bright as the sun’ A 1,000-strong congregation burst into spontaneous applause last night after hearing heartfelt tributes to a mother and daughter brutally murdered at the weekend.
‘Parole board let evil rapist prey on Jill’The husband of murdered Jill Meagher says the man who raped and murdered his wife is "unrepentantly evil".
- WORLD
Boy, 13, charged over ‘wrestling’ death of sister, 5 A 13-year-old boy has been charged with second-degree murder over the death of his five-year-old half-sister after he told investigators he repeatedly struck her with wrestling moves imitated from TV.
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Aircraft leasing firm buys 10 Boeing jetsShannon-based aircraft leasing firm GE Capital Aviation Services have bought 10 new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners for an estimated $3bn (€2.24bn) at list price.
- SPORT
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- LIFESTYLE
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Breaking stories
HEA recommendations at odds with free fees activists
By Niall Murray, Education Correspondent
The Government faces more headaches on third-level fees as students continue to campaign for free college while the higher education sector looks set to call for increased fees to prevent the system collapsing.
The Government-appointed Higher Education Authority has begun a review which aims to recommend how to fund a system already straining under the pressure of rising student numbers and falling funds.The HEA set out a range of options late last year, including increased student contributions, a student loan scheme, or a graduate tax. But Education Minister Ruairi Quinn instead announced a rise to €2,250 a year in student contributions for those who do not receive a grant.
In a reflection of impatience across the third-level system with a perceived lack of government action on the issue, the HEA has started a further review of funding mechanisms, and painted a clear picture of the need for additional funding.
It warned late last year the quality of education — already said by colleges to be falling — would suffer further if the system is to cater for the boom in student numbers finishing school in the next few years.
“If we are going to meet the surge in demand, there has to be some way to fund it,” said a HEA spokesman. “It’s just not sustainable that the Exchequer is going to be able to continue to fund it at present levels.”
The Union of Students in Ireland announced last night that members have voted to reaffirm their campaign for free fees.
USI president Gary Redmond said it is critical for Ireland’s recovery that investment in higher education continues.
“USI’s core principle has always been to ensure equity of access for all students and our members have decided that the best way to ensure this is to continue the campaign for free third-level education,” he said.
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