University president to step down amid controversy over institution's funding deficit

Professor David FitzPatrick told staff on Wednesday that the time had come for “new energy to take the reins”.

The president of the Technological University of Dublin is to step down amid a controversy over a multimillion-euro funding deficit incurred by the institution.

Professor David FitzPatrick told staff on Wednesday that the time had come for “new energy to take the reins”.

He said he would be resigning with effect from the end of May to take up a post as provost and chief executive of the University of Nottingham Malaysia, thus “furthering a long-held ambition to live and work abroad in an international education setting”.

“However, in the time before I stand down, I’m committed to ensuring that we develop a financial recovery plan that will demonstrate a sound financial footing,” he said.

TU Dublin was criticised last month by the Higher Education Authority which said it had serious concerns over the “apparent lack of urgency, responsiveness and conduct” of the university’s governing body in terms of addressing its finances.

The institution, which receives more than €130m in State-funding annually, is currently saddled with a financial deficit of nearly €9m.

Meanwhile, a t University of Limerick, controversy surrounds the university’s overpayment of more than €5m for 20 houses to be used as student accommodation at Rhebogue, close to its main campus in 2022.

The university’s chancellor Brigid Laffan, who was first appointed last November, will address the entire staff body on Thursday morning ahead of a meeting of the institution’s governing authority.

That meeting has been called to discuss the results of a review it had commissioned regarding the Rhebogue transaction.