Universities unsure about nature of cuts

THIRD-level colleges are still in the dark about how much or which parts of their budgets they must cut as part of the Government spending review but the impact is likely to mean part-time job losses and a freeze on student numbers.

Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe indicated last week he would be telling the colleges “next week” where the 3% cuts would be required but they are still awaiting clarification.

According to the Irish Universities Association (IUA), representing heads of the seven universities, there is uncertainty about where the 3% must be taken from or if there will be a specific directive about cuts.

But any cuts are likely to come on top of spending savings already being planned across the third-level sector. Cork Institute of Technology has already told more than 50 part-time lecturers there will be no work for them in the autumn, while University College Cork president, Dr Michael Murphy, said this week that a €13 million deficit will also lead to some job losses, as well as other cost savings.