Limerick TD criticises funding cut for third level education

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Irelandโ€™s future economic prosperity is being put at risk by the apparent failure of the Government to adequately resource third level education.

That’s the view of Limerick Fianna Fรกil TD Niall Collins who was commenting after being informed that just โ‚ฌ14.4 million has been allocated to the third level sector in Budget 2018 compared to allocations of โ‚ฌ30.4 million and โ‚ฌ14.4 million in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Deputy Collins, who is party spokesperson on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, said thatย funding for the current year is woefully short of what was previously allocated to third level institutions under the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions (PRTLI), established by Fianna Fรกil in 1998.

โ€œThe refrain from Government is that they are investing in a modern and dynamic economy yet the evidence just doesnโ€™t stack up”, Deputy Collins claimed.

โ€œFunding is being cut for the very same 3rd level institutions that are supposed to be on the cutting edge and frontline of Irelandโ€™s research endeavours.

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Niall Collins TD

โ€œThe last Fianna Fรกil government committed to a โ‚ฌ57.9 million budget for the PRTLI in 2011 despite the constraints on public expenditure at the time.

โ€œThis was done in the knowledge and belief that investing in Irelandโ€™s education system would lead to spin off industries and jobs in the future.

โ€œFine Gael has clearly decided that this is no longer a priority, and has cut the funding. This is one of the main reasons, I believe, why Irish universities are progressively falling in world rankings”, Deputy Collins explained.

โ€œFine Gaelโ€™s decision to move from a five year funding model to yearly funding has severely reduced the ability of third level researchers plan for the future, and entire would-be researchers to locate in Ireland.

โ€œMinister Humphreys is new to this Department. She needs to call a halt to the underfunding of third level research, and seek additional funds for our universities and colleges.

โ€œIf the Government decides to give up funding research in our higher education system, we seriously risk cutting off the supply of top quality researchers and spin off industries that must become the bed rock of our future economic prosperity,โ€ Deputy Collins concluded.

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