More than 1,100 college jobs cut in 18 months

MORE than 1,100 fewer people are working in third-level colleges than 18 months ago as a result of Government staffing restrictions.

The jobs cuts are mostly a result of vacancies due to retirements not being filled and the non-renewal of contracts for non-permanent staff in almost 30 universities, institutes of technology and other state-funded colleges.

Higher Education Authority (HEA) figures, which take account of retirements due and contracts which will end before the end of 2010, reveal that overall numbers employed in the sector will reduce from 18,923 at the start of 2009 to 17,779.