The dispute between university heads and the Minister for Education over cutbacks in the sector has escalated despite talks between both sides.
At a meeting, the chairman of the Conference of Heads of Irish Universities (CHIU), Dr Seamus Smyth, outlined the serious damage the cutbacks are causing.
Many courses have been scaled back and contract staff have been forced to leave because of what universities claim is an effective 10 per cent cut in funding.
The recent Estimates made no provision for the benchmarking payments to staff. CHIU said they were dismayed to learn from the Minister that his main justification for the cuts was an alleged lack of information about the sector. "I find this explanation hard to accept given the level of scrutiny of the sector by the Higher Education Authority and the openness of the sector to providing information," Dr Smyth said.
Dr John Hegarty (TCD) said he was very concerned that what were fundamental funding decisions affecting the future development of the universities and their contribution to the knowledge society were prompted or guided by misconceptions about the universities and their operations.
Dr Smyth added that the implications of the cuts were so serious as to preempt the OECD Review of Irish Higher Education. "Decisions with far-reaching policy impact should be informed by objective and professional analysis of the sector."
"It is clear that the decision was made without due regard for the requirements of the higher education sector. On the eve of the publication of the 2004 Estimates the Minister himself made the following statement in the Dail: 'The challenges of maintaining quality, responsiveness and competitiveness in higher education are a major priority against the background of unprecedented levels of expansion, change and diversification in the sector in Ireland.'
"Given this statement and the clear commitment of the Government to creating a world class research, development and innovation capacity in Ireland, there is now a fundamental gap between the priorities of the Minister for Education and Science and the aspirations of the Government as a whole, Dr Smyth said.
