Universities face major funding pressure, Cabinet to hear

Higher education minister James Lawless to warn of pressures on third-level education due to a spike in demand for places up to 2045

Full-time higher education enrolments are projected to increase by 33,000-39,000 students by 2033/34, reaching up to 250,857 students. It represents growth of up to 19% on current levels. Picture: iStock

Universities are facing significant funding pressures due to an expected surge in student numbers in the coming years.

Higher education minister James Lawless is expected to warn his Cabinet colleagues of pressures on third-level due to a spike in demand for places up to 2045. 

The increase in students will impact on funding, investment, infrastructure planning and policy development across the higher education sector.

Mr Lawless will say full-time higher education enrolments are projected to increase by between 33,000 and 39,000 students by 2033/34, reaching up to 250,857 students. This represents growth of up to 19% on current levels.

Postgraduate enrolments are also projected to grow by between 6,000 and 12,000 students over the next decade, supported in part by continued international and non-EU demand.

Jennie’s Law

Meanwhile, a number of highly anticipated bills are to come before Cabinet today, including controversial changes to the triple lock, and a law to establish a register of domestic abusers.

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan will bring forward Jennie’s Law, which will set up a public register of the names of domestic abusers. The legislation, that would see the names of those convicted of domestic violence against a partner or former partner included on a public register as part of the conviction process, could now be enacted before the Dáil rises for the summer in mid-July.

Triple lock 

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Helen McEntee is to bring proposals to alter the triple lock, which would remove the UN approval requirement when deploying troops.

Instead, only government and Dáil approval would be required to sign off on deployments.

The plans have been criticised by members of the opposition. However, the coalition remains committed to advancing the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2026. Ms McEntee will also bring a memo outlining Ireland's priorities and plans for the EU presidency, which begins in July.

Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon will bring a memo on the final report of the timber in construction steering group.

Asset covered securities 

Separately, the Tánaiste is to seek Government approval to draft a bill on the issuing of asset covered securities in Ireland.

The legislation will provide for a universal banking model as an alternative to the current specialist banking model. 

This will allow banks to issue asset covered securities without the need, as at present, to establish and maintain a specialist subsidiary for that purpose.

This will simplify the framework and reduce costs.

It will also ensure that the framework is more accommodating of issuers who may wish to issue a programme of specifically “green” securities.

• Elaine Loughlin, Political Editor