Anger over funds boost for Dublin universities

GOVERNMENT funding for a research collaboration between the country’s two largest universities looks set to cause major divisions with other third-level colleges.

The Irish Examiner has learned that Taoiseach Brian Cowen is set to announce, possibly in the next week, that significant funding will be set aside for closer partnership between Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and University College Dublin (UCD).

But the move will infuriate the heads of the other universities, who fear it could create a two-tier third-level system.