UL boss calls for action over funding crisis

THE Department of Education was yesterday accused of refusing to take action to rectify a funding crisis in third-level education. Speaking at winter conferrings at the University of Limerick (UL), college chancellor, Peter Malone, issued a renewed call for a review of higher education to be undertaken urgently.

Mr Malone said: "The third-level sector has consistently delivered for the nation, providing a solid foundation for the knowledge economy - a foundation that is all the more needed in these difficult times if we are to secure prosperity in future years.

"But there is a serious funding crisis at third-level due to under-investment in recent times and world-class teaching and research standards cannot be attained unless additional state financing is provided. I believe the universities give an excellent return on investment to the exchequer and I feel it is essential to undertake a speedy review of the €2 billion in annual support the Government provides so that what is a very real funding shortfall can be identified and addressed as a matter of national priority."

UL, he said, had been to the forefront in working with regional and national bodies to respond to ongoing job losses.

Meanwhile, UL taxation qualifications were presented to 99 students from the Revenue Commissioners.

Mr Malone said: "I am particularly glad to see further graduates emerging from our partnership with the Revenue Commissioners. The lessons we have learned from recent developments lay greater emphasis on the need for appropriate levels of regulation in our society and the applied taxation programmes we have developed are contributing to the further professionalisation of our revenue system."