The points system has served Ireland well but change is needed to encourage positive educational values — not just for college but for lifelong learning, writes Ned Costello

FIVE universities are still paying 100 staff over €200,000 a year, including more than 30 at University College Cork.

A NATIONAL gathering of concerned citizens is to be held in the summer with a view to re-invigorating Ireland’s democratic institutions and restoring trust in public life.

COLLEGE charges for student services which the Government may increase to around €2,500 are only costing universities between €1,589 and €1,943 a year per head.

LEAVING Certificate students who barely pass higher level maths will get the same points for college entry as someone who previously got a C1 grade under a bonus points system agreed by the seven universities.

THIRD-level college bosses have warned of further reductions in student services after the sector was hit by another €20 million cut in the supplementary budget.

NO SPECIFIC application to increase college fees has been made by universities, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

UNIVERSITIES here are facing deficits of about €45 million, college bosses have admitted.

A COMBINATION of top-up fees and student loans is the best way to fund third-level education and ensure social equality in the system, university presidents have claimed.

UNIVERSITY bosses have to find an extra €1,000 for every student each year because of effective cuts in government funding, it was claimed yesterday.

PROPER Government funding rather than a return to fees is the only way to improve third and fourth level education, rather than a return to college fees, students claimed last night.

Hundreds of millions needs to be invested in research and development, particularly in the enterprise sector, to make sure Ireland is competitive in the global economy, according to a new report.

A new Board of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) with Dr Pat Fottrell as its chairperson has been appointed by the Tánaiste Mary Harney.

TÁNAISTE Mary Harney has announced the board of Science Foundation Ireland, the body set up to fund research and development.