Record numbers of students will receive offers of college places tomorrow, according to the Union of Students in Ireland. Calling for adequate education investment in facilities to match increases in the numbers of students in third-level education, the USI's deputy president, Mr Julian de Spainn, said that in the decade to 1998 the investment per student on buildings in Irish universities fell from £342 to £243.
Following a meeting of the national council of the new USI executive, Mr de Spainn said Ireland's economic success was founded on the quality of the education system. "If we are to continue producing the high-quality graduates the economy needs, we must ensure that our college places are adequately funded," he said.
He pointed out that the student/staff ratio in Irish universities was currently 22:1, compared to Germany and the US, where it was less than 15:1.