Dáil Éireann Written Answers – Higher Education Grants

“Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse the cuts to third level grants, the impact of which will force thousands of students out of college …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann – Written Answers, 22 March]

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Teachers Pet

“Ruairí Quinn is under intense pressure to abolish new controls on higher education recruitment. The controls apply to all staff employed in higher education, whether their posts are funded by the exchequer or not. The implications for research activity, funded privately or by the EU, are potentially disastrous …” (more)

[Irish Times, 22 March]

Could Education Bring Down the Government?

“It has been said that the program for Government approved last week in the Dáil is high on rhetoric but low on detail, leaving the detail to be hammered out at cabinet level …” (more)

[Henry Burrows, University Times, 18 March]

Dear Minister: A letter to the new Minister for Education

“A meeting with American High School counsellors this week and with a visiting Vice President for racial diversity sparked conversation and so reflection on what the Arts Humanities and social sciences offer the world at this moment in time, and what in particular the Irish context offers of value to that realm …” (more)

[Caroline Fennell, Creative Head Space, 17 March]

NUI redux

“In January 2010 the then Minister for Education and Science, Batt O’Keeffe (now retired from politics), announced that he intended to ‘dissolve’ the National University of Ireland (a statement that made the NUI appear to be a kind of giant Alka Selzer) …” (more)

[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, 17 March]

Big Brother HEA

“The new restrictions on third-level colleges have unleashed an angry response from across the higher education sector. There is a widespread air of exasperation at the new measures which micro-manage the sector and appear to inhibit research and commercial activities …” (more)

[Editorial, Irish Times, 16 March]

Quinn reverses decision to abolish the NUI

“The Government has reversed a decision to abolish the National University of Ireland, which has over 250,000 graduates in Ireland and worldwide, the Irish Independent has learned …” (more)

[John Walshe, Independent, 16 March]

Anger mounts against third-level controls

“Pressure is intensifying on the Department of Education and the HEA (Higher Education Authority) to abolish new controls on the higher-education sector imposed by the last government which have provoked an outcry from academics …” (more)

[Seán Flynn, Irish Times, 16 March]

Academics furious over HEA’s strict hiring limits

“Tough new controls have been imposed over all appointments to third-level institutions – sparking anger from top academics …” (more)

[John Walshe, Independent, 15 March]

Quinn under pressure to lift third-level restrictions

“Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn is under intense pressure to rescind restrictions on third-level colleges that were pushed through by the last government in its final days …” (more)

[Seán Flynn, Irish Times, 15 March]

How Quinn can make a difference

“The new Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has the unenviable task of boosting standards in Irish education with virtually no additional investment. Here’s an 11-point action plan to help him turn things around …” (more)

[Seán Flynn, Irish Times, 15 March]

Quinn quits education technology funding firm

“Barely a wet day in the job and the new Education & Skills Minister Ruairi Quinn has already written a letter of resignation – so he can step down from a firm that funds university research …” (more)

[Louise McBride, Independent, 13 March]

The new Irish Minister for Education: what will he do for higher education?

“For those who may not have been readers of this blog at that time, I interviewed Ruairi Quinn in 2009 to ascertain his views on the priorities for higher education. I reproduce the interview below …” (more)

[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, 12 March]

Quinn pledges to be ‘new broom’ as education chief

“New Education Minister Ruairi Quinn yesterday vowed to change the way things are done in the department he previously lambasted for being secretive and protective of the Catholic Church …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 12 March]

Welcoming the new Irish education minister

“The new Minister for Education and Skills is Ruairi Quinn. I have known him for some time, and remember debating industrial relations law with him when he was Minister for Labour in the 1980s. I regard him as a good choice for the education portfolio, in which he has both experience and an established interest …” (more)

[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, 10 March]

USI to pressure Labour over pre-Election commitment

“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has said that it will make sure that the Labour Party keep to the pledge that they signed before the election saying that they would not increase fees …” (more)

[Cork Student News, 2 March]

Taking the pledge

“In the run-up to the 2010 general election in the United Kingdom, the National Union of Students (NUS) persuaded a number of parliamentary candidates to sign their ‘vote for students’ pledge …” (more)

[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, 22 February]

Labour signs student fees pledge

“Labour Party’s education spokesman Ruairí Quinn has said the next government faces a ‘horrendously difficult task’ and needs a strong broad-based coalition to help carry the nation as it seeks to fix the economy …” (more)

[Charlie Taylor, Irish Times, 21 February]

Labour can’t say how it will ditch €500 college hike

“Labour has made the reversal of the €500 increase in third-level student charges the big ticket item of its election promises on education …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 18 February]

Labour vows to abolish college fee rise

“The €500 increase in the third-level student services charge would be reversed by Labour in government, party education spokesman Ruairí Quinn said yesterday …” (more)

[Michael O’Regan, Irish Times, 18 February]