Minister urged to reverse cuts to third level

The Government should reverse cuts to third-level education and eventually reduce student fees that are heading for €3,000, an economic think tank has recommended.

The discussion paper by the Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) adds pressure on Education Minister Ruairi Quinn to address the problems facing the sector. It has seen a 10% drop in academic staff from 2008 to 2012, while student numbers rose over 12% to 200,000 in the four years to 2013.

Mr Quinn told the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) congress, where the paper was earlier launched, about a range of plans to better measure and direct colleges’ performance against key national objectives. These include requirements for less duplication of courses and fewer colleges, for example, leading teacher training.