University presidents warn over impact of funding cut

JOBS freezes, larger class sizes, reduced library hours and cuts to student medical services are looming as a result of spending cuts ordered by the Government, university presidents have warned Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe.

They made clear to him in an hour-long meeting yesterday that the 3% spending cut ordered in July created a tipping point making it impossible to protect students and frontline services from their impact.

The cuts are being considered by university managers as tens of thousands of students return to lecture halls with uncertainty over the level of academic and support services that will be available to them.