5 Things you need to know today

1. Third-level college funding to be linked to performance

Students could face having to pay off income contingent loans of more than €16,000 under new proposal. Third-level colleges will have to meet performance targets to secure additional funding under plans being drawn up by Minister for Education Richard Bruton. Colleges’ capacity to meet skills gaps in the economy will be crucial to future funding, as will their ability to increase participation rates among disadvantaged students. Mr Bruton will outline his plans at the publication of the long-awaited expert group on the future of third-level funding, chaired by former union leader Peter Cassells. The report’s findings – based on a final draft seen by The Irish Times –

[ say the current funding system needs urgent reform ]

.(http://iti.ms/29IP4Ta)

For more indepth news and analysis

[ click here ]

(http://iti.ms/29AwRsG)

2. Taoiseach's backers may seek vote of confidence

Close supporters of Mr Kenny are considering tabling a motion of confidence in his leadership to the party’s TDs and Senators this week. The motion is designed to counteract the prospect of a written motion of no confidence from disaffected backbenchers calling for the party to begin a process choosing Mr Kenny’s successor. Two senior Ministers separately confirmed to The Irish Times that the motion might be put before the parliamentary party on Wednesday.

[ One said it would put a stop to internal tensions ]

. (http://iti.ms/29Awhei)

3. Portugal worthy winners as France freeze at the last

Now that it’s over we can admit it. Euro 2016 was a mediocre tournament, which culminated on Sunday night in a mediocre final and the coronation of a mediocre champion. But nobody can say there was injustice. Portugal were the best team on the night, and their first European Championship was richly deserved. As a spectacle, the final never really recovered from the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo to a knee injury after his fateful collision with Dmitry Payet in the 8th minute. In his absence it became cruelly apparent that Ronaldo has more star power as the other 21 players combined. When a great player is forced out of a game it invariably leads to complaints about violent play,

[ but if you believe that football is better as a contact sport then you also have to accept that injuries will happen ]

. (http://iti.ms/29IPzwF)

For more indepth news and analysis

[ click here ]

(http://iti.ms/1TXiwWz)

4. The pros and cons of Brexit for your pocket

We would like to be able to say the dust has now settled on the Brexit vote and everything has returned to normal. But it hasn’t and it probably won’t for quite some time – if, indeed, it ever does. But with the passage of time, clearer pictures always emerge, and now might be as good a time as any to leave aside all the political and economic shenanigans and the big-picture stuff and see what it might mean for Irish consumers.

[ As with most things, there are reasons to be cheerful and reasons to be glum ]

(http://iti.ms/29IQmxB)

5. Cúinne beag ceolmhar an Phiarsaigh

“Bíonn a léamh féin ag chuile dhuine ar an bPiarsach mar fhear, mar scríbhneoir, mar réabhlóidí, mar pholaiteoir, mar oideachasóir, mar Ghael. Léiríonn an ceol agus na hamhráin a luaitear ina chuid drámaí go raibh cúinne beag dá aigne a thug spás ar leith don cheol agus a chreid go raibh fiúntas agus luach ag baint leis do phobal na hÉireann trí chéile.” Sin mar a scríobhann Síle Denvir agus í ag cur a dlúthdhiosca nua, Caithréim (Cló Iar-Chonnacht), i láthair. Tá an ceart aici fosta; tá sí i ndiaidh teacht ar mhír de shaol an Phiarsaigh a raibh faillí déanta inti. Is beag duine – an t-iriseoir seo san áireamh – a thugann aird ar an ghné seo de shaol cruthaitheach an Phiarsaigh.

[ Is orainn atá an t-ádh go raibh fís ag Denvir nach raibh ag an chuid eile againn ]

. (http://iti.ms/29AFGCu)