Richard Bruton urged to downplay fall in uni ratings

The Department of Education tried to downplay the significance of another dramatic fall in the international rankings of Ireland’s top universities.

Internal documents reveal how Minister for Education Richard Bruton had been briefed in advance that third- level institutions were likely to continue their decline in global league tables for higher education.

When published, it emerged not a single Irish university remained in the Top 200 in the Times Higher Education rankings with “major funding cuts” given as one of the most significant factors.