Harris vows to resolve crises engulfing third level institutions

Fine Gael Leader Minister Simon Harris TD after his party address at the 82nd Fine Gael Ard Fheis at the University of Galway. Picture: Dan Linehan

Incoming Taoiseach Simon Harris has vowed to resolve the crises engulfing third level institutions and to bring down student fees under his leadership.

Issuing a firm warning, Mr Harris said he expects all universities to co-operate in full with any investigations, including a probe by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), into how millions of euro in funding has been spent.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr Harris said: "I can tell you this as Taoiseach I may be leaving the Department of Further and Higher Education, but my passion for resolving that funding issue, for making sure that in resolving it that we also reduce the fees for students so that cost isn't a barrier."

It comes as multiple third level institutions have been embroiled in financial controversy, including UCC which has been forced to review all capital project spending after recording a €11.2m deficit.

University of Limerick has also recorded a €700,000 deficit after overpaying for student housing, while the TU Dublin president is to step down in May amid controversy over a €8.6m budget deficit.

Mr Harris said: "Any issue in any institution to do with governance is an issue for that institution to speak to and to be accountable to the PAC in relation to that. I expect all our universities to cooperate in a full and in a transparent manner with the PAC."

UL has written to the PAC requesting that a hearing scheduled for this week be deferred until next month.

In a letter to the Committee, chancellor Professor Brigid Laffan added said "it is not clear" when the university's president Professor Kerstin Mey, will be in a position to come before the PAC as she is currently on certified sick leave.

Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe said it is now critical that there are "strong leaders" in universities who can resolve any financial issues.

He told the Irish Examiner: "We do have a number of issues that have developed in our universities. And it's so important that we have strong leaders in those universities that can resolve those issues.

"I don't anticipate it will become a crisis, but it is a problem. And it's a real problem when a group of these universities identify different problems."