Irish Universities Associations calling on government to "deliver on funding commitments" (IUA)

"This autumn’s Budget is the last opportunity for the current government to deliver on its Funding the Future commitments", says the Irish Universities Association (IUA), the Irish Rectors' conference, on 04/07/2024.

"The €307 M funding shortfall identified by the government in May 2022 has been exacerbated by a failure to provide sufficient funds for national pay awards agreed by the government.

Almost all of the extra €100 M provided over the last two years under Funding the Future has been eroded by an under-funding of pay awards, leaving universities materially short of funds to pay existing staff."

The IUA's submission calls for:
• "A €92 M supplementary budget in 2024 to cover the costs of existing staff;
• A further €171 M in Budget 2025 to continue covering existing staff costs;
• And at least €120 M additional Funding for the Future allocation."

The association, regrouping eight universities in Ireland, also demands the use of the surplus in the National Training Fund (NTF), which, according to the IUA, now amounts to €1.5 Bn.

The organisation states that it was able to speak to…