Madam, - Frank Bannister (August 10th) identifies the real problem in the funding of university education. The considerable funds available for research and postgraduate education are occupying the time and attention of the universities and institutes to the detriment of the number, quality and variety of primary degrees being provided.
The provision of funds for fourth-level research is important for economic growth but, as Mr Bannister says, an increasing number of good primary graduates is a much better way of improving the wellbeing of the nation.
Policy in this area is too important to be left solely to a Government focused so narrowly on economic growth. - Yours, etc,
TOM RYAN, Dunmore Road, Waterford.
Madam, - It has become increasingly clear in the past few weeks that the presidents of our universities have become disconnected from the reality faced by the people to whom their position is entirely due - the students. While many students do have more money than in the past, there are still many who struggle through college. The Forum of University Students Unions (FUSU), which is composed of the students' unions of Ireland's universities, believes strongly that third-level education should be available to everyone, and not restricted to the wealthy.
We therefore welcome warmly the refusal of the Minister to countenance the return of third-level fees, a decision which recognises the huge advances in Irish society and the economy in the 12 years since their abolition. Now is the time to really take this forward; the long-awaited Student Support Bill centralising the grants system needs to be passed as a matter of urgency. The often long delays in this system need to be eradicated to help students with the least money and encourage wider third-level participation.
We look forward with interest to the reconvening of the Dáil. - Yours, etc,
ALAN FLANAGAN, DCU SU president, JAMES HOPE, NUIG SU president, MÁIRÍN CONDON, NUIM SU president, ANDREW BYRNE, TCD SU president, KRIS McELHINNEY, UCC SU president, BARRY COLFER, UCD SU president, ST JOHN Ó DONNABHÁIN, UL SU president.