€150m core funding increase is what universities 'have been crying out for'

In relation to UCC specifically, Sean O'Driscoll said the taxpayer has now, through the government, committed a serious level of multi-annual funding to the university.

The budget decision to increase core funding for universities by €150m to bring it to €650m by 2030 has been described as a “huge win” for students and the sector.

The increase, and its delivery in a multi-annual format, gives financial certainty to a sector that has faced years of funding uncertainty, said UCC’s governing authority chairman Sean O’Driscoll, who just three weeks ago warned of the funding crisis facing Ireland’s third level sector.