The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has called for the immediate publication of the Report of the Expert Group on Future Funding of Higher Education.

Mike Jennings, General Secretary of IFUT, said that while the report has been completed for a number of months it is being left to gather dust while third-level colleges, staff, researchers and students continue to suffer from lack of facilities and funding.

“In addition to the damage caused by a decade of underfunding, educational facilities now face further erosion and damage as a result of a refusal to make public the findings of a specially commissioned Report on the crisis and the resultant inaction and inertia of government and the Department of Education.”

“It is disgraceful, as talks continue on the formation of a government, that this report remains hidden from public view and its findings and proposals missing from the debate on the education policy of the next government. “

During the recent general election campaign a wide range of voices, from IFUT to HEA and IBEC, supported by prominent voices such as John Fitzgerald, highlighted that third-level education is being systematically strangled of funding, resources and staff.

“In this context the failure to publish the report is a disgrace and an insult to tens of thousands of young people and their teachers.”

“It should be published immediately and addressed in detail in the next Programme for Government,” Mike Jennings said.”

ENDS

For further information on this media release please contact:

John Gallagher   -   John Gallagher Consulting  -  Tel. 087 9369888

Mike Jennings   -  General Secretary, IFUT  -  Tel. 087 6776747