O’Keeffe ‘cannot understand’ lack of funding

EDUCATION Minister Batt O’Keeffe said he “cannot understand” how universities claim they are starved for cash given their increase in funding in recent years.

Mr O’Keeffe said he is not satisfied that the Government is getting value for money from the third-level sector, indicating that too much funding goes on research and development rather than teaching students. He said he will carry out an audit to ensure money is used properly.

He was speaking at the Fianna Fáil annual think-in yesterday where he met a number of students who had gathered outside the conference in the Clayton Hotel in Galway to protest over proposals to re-introduce college fees.