Groups urge education minister to ‘reverse decade of cuts to third-level’

Pressure is growing on the Government to increase third-level funding next year as business leaders, students, and universities have all urged Education Minister Richard Bruton to begin reversing almost a decade of cuts.

Political decisions are already being sought from higher education presidents on the longer term and who should stump up the extra €600m a year needed by 2021, rising to €1bn in 2030, to sustain the sector.

But, after the latest world rankings showed the further decline for all Irish universities except NUI Galway, business organisation Ibec said Ireland’s highly-skilled labour force is under serious threat as a critical asset if funding is not urgently addressed.