Universities may have to repay €20m in allowances

UNIVERSITIES could be forced to pay back up to €20 million in unauthorised allowances which were paid without Government approval to senior staff despite their calls for the reintroduction of fees for students.

It’s also emerged the total pension fund of universities has liabilities of €2.15 billion, even though a huge number of academic staff were recently allowed to retire on enhanced pensions.

Student representatives last night said they should not suffer as a result of “extravagant and reckless” payments by presidents who “simultaneously called for the reintroduction of college tuition fees”.