Lecturers' union warns against Snip cuts
The Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) today expressed concern that recommendations of cuts to third-level education outlined in the McCarthy report would have huge negative effects for economic recovery.
Yesterday’s report by An Bord Snip Nua, headed by UCD economist Colm McCarthy, contained a number of recommendations, including a reduction in staffing at third level, the amalgamation of the Dublin Institutes of Technology, the closure of the Tipperary Institute, a cut of €27.5m in funding for research and development and cuts to student grants.
The TUI, which represents lecturers in Ireland's Institutes of Technology, said today that a reduction in staffing at third level would be potentially catastrophic for students at a time when there will be an unprecedented demand for places.
“The way out of this economic morass is through reskilling and upskilling of the population, specifically those on the Live Register,” the union said in a statement.
“These cuts would devastate third level education and send out a message that we as a nation do not value education,” said TUI Deputy General Secretary Annette Dolan.
“It is no coincidence that the only positive news in terms of job creation in Ireland in recent months have invariably been linked to investment from research arms of international corporations such as IBM,” she said.
“It would truly be a case of destroying the economic engine for a few drops of oil.”
