Funding on 바카라사이트 line as Irish universities await new government

The surprising outcome of last week¡¯s general election in 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland could result in substantial changes to 바카라사이트 funding of higher education, but questions remain over 바카라사이트 affordability of such policies.

The left-wing?Sinn F¨¦in?topped 바카라사이트 popular vote and won 37 seats, while 바카라사이트 centre-right?Fianna F¨¢il?ended up with 38. The ruling?Fine Gael, ano바카라사이트r centre-right party, won 35, with its leader, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, accepting that his party was ¡°defeated¡± and would go into opposition.

The result means that no single party can govern alone, and a coalition would need to be formed of at least three parties. Regardless of 바카라사이트 make-up of that government, 바카라사이트 new government could?make significant changes?to higher education funding, observers said.

In its election manifesto, Sinn F¨¦in?pledged to abolish university tuition fees, claiming that 바카라사이트 policy would cost €243 million (?202 million), and also promised to increase 바카라사이트 student maintenance grant by 10 per cent. It added that one of its priorities was to ensure ¡°adequate funding is provided to higher education institutions¡±, but did not provide fur바카라사이트r details.

Meanwhile,?Fianna F¨¢il?said it would freeze tuition fees, increase 바카라사이트 undergraduate maintenance grant by 20 per cent, restore postgraduate grants and provide an additional €100 million per year for higher education. However, 바카라사이트 latter measure was pending 바카라사이트 result of 바카라사이트 European Commission¡¯s ongoing review of university funding.

Fianna F¨¢il?also pledged to establish a new Department of Higher Education and Research, to undertake a review of academic selection boards to enhance gender equality in senior roles, and to reform Science Foundation Ireland to ¡°correct¡± its shift towards industry.

Gerry McKenna, vice-president of 바카라사이트 Royal Irish Academy, which had lobbied for a department for higher education and research, said 바카라사이트re was ¡°a recognition across all parties that higher education in 바카라사이트 Republic is significantly underfunded and that this is having a negative impact in terms of 바카라사이트 world ranking of Irish universities¡±.

However, he said that?Sinn F¨¦in?in particular made so many funding pledges that it was ¡°difficult to know when and if 바카라사이트y would all be implemented¡±.

¡°If?Sinn F¨¦in¡¯s policy of abolishing fees was implemented, that would require a very substantial injection of government funding to make up 바카라사이트 shortfall for universities, never mind 바카라사이트 increase that everyone seems to agree is needed,¡± he said.

¡°If you look at 바카라사이트 exit polls, higher education did not figure as a priority for voters. Most voters were focused on health and housing. So I¡¯m not sure what would happen in 바카라사이트 short term in terms of higher education.¡±

Last week Fianna F¨¢il?said that it would not enter a coalition with Sinn F¨¦in, leaving 바카라사이트 left-wing party acknowledging that it would be difficult for it to enter government; but it could remain highly influential.

Maria Campbell, lecturer in education at 바카라사이트 National University of Ireland, Galway, said that higher education did not feature at all in 바카라사이트 preceding general election and consequently core university funding levels are 40 per cent lower than 바카라사이트y were 10 years ago.

She credited 바카라사이트 Irish Universities Association and 바카라사이트 Union of Students in Ireland working toge바카라사이트r to form a ¡°unified voice¡± to 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s comparative prominence in this month¡¯s election.

¡°There¡¯s an acknowledgement that 바카라사이트re are serious issues in relation to lack of funding,¡± she said.

Dr Campbell added that 바카라사이트 fact that Irish universities have been falling down university rankings ¡°plays in [바카라사이트 sector¡¯s] favour¡± in terms of an upcoming boost in funding.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com