University fee cuts ‘must be reversed’

THE heads of the seven universities have called on the Government to ensure a higher education review focuses strongly on redressing cutbacks.

The Conference of Heads of Irish Universities (CHIU) was responding to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development review announced by Education Minister Noel Dempsey last month. The minister said the review was being undertaken in the context of Ireland’s strategic objective of placing its higher education system in the top rank of the OECD.

CHIU chairman Dr Séamus Smyth welcomed the review as a positive initiative. But, in considering the review’s terms of reference, the university heads issued a strong message “in light of the inadequate State funding of Irish universities.”