Hike is not enough for universities

The Government has increased educational funding but the increase provided does not come close to meeting the cost of inflation, especially the extra wage bill incurred by benchmarking or Sustaining Progress.

Salaries comprised 75% of non-capital spending, with the result that benchmarking alone will cost the universities an extra €25 million this year.

The seven universities need about 10% extra because they are faced with an overall shortfall of around €38m in 2004.