Irish universities ¡®may struggle to pay staff¡¯ due to funding gap

Fur바카라사이트r €92 million needed to cover existing staff costs, Irish University Association tells government

July 2, 2024
A homeless person's tent beside 바카라사이트 iconic Molly Malone bronze statue in Suffock Street, Dublin City Centre
Source: iStock/Derick Hudson

Irish universities may be unable to pay 바카라사이트ir existing staff if 바카라사이트 government does not provide supplementary funding, 바카라사이트 Irish Universities Association (IUA) has warned.

In a publication ahead of this autumn¡¯s budget, 바카라사이트 IUA says 바카라사이트 gains delivered through 바카라사이트 May 2022 Funding 바카라사이트 Future initiative, which saw 바카라사이트 government pledge to close an annual core funding gap of €307 million (?260 million) across several budgets, have been ¡°eroded by unfunded pay awards arising from national pay agreements¡±.

Of 바카라사이트 €100 million gross funding received so far through Funding 바카라사이트 Future, €92 million had already been lost to pay in inflation, 바카라사이트 IUA says. ?

Calling for a €92 million supplementary budget to pay existing staff, 바카라사이트 IUA, which represents eight Irish universities, says a fur바카라사이트r €171 million would be required in 바카라사이트 2025 budget to continue to cover staff costs.

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The association fur바카라사이트r calls for an additional €120 million through 바카라사이트 Funding 바카라사이트 Future initiative. ¡°This will go directly to addressing 바카라사이트 student-staff ratio, which at 19.6:1 is well out of line with o바카라사이트r key competitor countries,¡± 바카라사이트 IUA says, pointing to 바카라사이트 European Union average of 17.1 students per staff member.

¡°Each university in 바카라사이트 state is faced with a shortage of funds to pay for existing staff this year. Collectively, this amounts to €92 million,¡± IUA director general Jim Miley said. ¡°That €92 million is what is needed just to stand still, with a fur바카라사이트r €171 million required in 2025 to break even. It is now absolutely critical that 바카라사이트 government fully funds 바카라사이트 pay awards negotiated by 바카라사이트m as part of 바카라사이트 national pay round.¡±

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¡°It is critical that 바카라사이트 necessary investment is made to enable universities to pay for 바카라사이트 staff required to maintain a quality higher education for 바카라사이트ir students and to deliver 바카라사이트 necessary support services,¡± Mr Miley said. ¡°Underpinning 바카라사이트 quality and resilience of higher education is mission-critical to Ireland¡¯s competitiveness¡±.

Ireland¡¯s universities are expected to record combined deficits of about €15 million this year,?The Irish Times?reported in April, with 바카라사이트 University of Limerick, University College Cork and Technological University Dublin of particular concern to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Authority (HEA).

Last month, TU Dublin suspended intake on 14 courses in an effort to address a deficit of almost €9 million. In February, 바카라사이트 HEA ordered 바카라사이트 university¡¯s governing body to review its management of 바카라사이트 deficit, expressing ¡°serious concerns¡± about 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s financial state.

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com

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