Three Institute of Technologies facing financial black holes as it emerges they are millions in debt

At least three leading State-funded third level institutes of technology have been ordered to draw up three-year financial recovery plans after it emerged they are millions of euro in debt - putting significant pressure on key front-line services.

The Higher Education Authority revealed the situation to the Dáil public accounts committee as the PAC amid heightened concerns over the need to protect funding levels for ITs, colleges and universities across the country.