University heads seek increase in Govt funding

The heads of Ireland’s universities have called for more Government funding following the publication of a study highlighting a fall in such funding between 1995 and 2001.

The study commissioned by the Conference of Heads of Irish Universities found that direct support per student had fallen significantly in the six-year period.

Seamus Smith from NUI Galway, who is currently chair of the CHIU, said this reduction in funding was harming the quality of third-level education in Ireland.

"The universities of Ireland - are under-funded relative to our competing nations," he said.

"In the OECD, we are at best mid-place in all the major indicators and we should be up there in the top 20%."