Cuts, cuts everywhere

ONE step backward in order to take two steps forward is how Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe described a raft of spending cuts within his €9.6 billion budget for next year.

While he hoped that the €25,000 salary cut which he and ministerial colleagues are taking will help signal that everyone is sharing the burden, the level of cuts could make that a step too far for many people.

A €600 increase in third-level registration fees to €1,500 next autumn was described by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) as a cynical attempt to bring in fees through the back door without public debate.