IFUT

📰 Published in the Irish Times, Letters to the Editor: Frank Jones Frank Jones, General Secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers, asks how the Government can find €8 billion to repay bailout loans early while pleading scarcity on higher education funding. 🎓 📉 Funding the Future (2022) acknowledged a €307m annual core funding shortfall 
📉 Since then, the sector's budget has risen by about €174m a year, while student numbers, inflation and pay costs have all grown 
📉 Budget 2027 proposes just €10m more, far short of the accumulated deficit 
📉 The OECD's Education at a Glance 2026 places Ireland among the lowest spenders on education as a share of GDP 
📉 Per student, Ireland spends $14,799 at bachelor's level and above, against an OECD average of $16,405 (PPP-adjusted) Education pays back through higher earnings, tax revenues, productivity and innovation. Those returns deserve weighing against the projected €90m saving from early repayment. His conclusion: letting higher education deteriorate while accelerating repayment of old debts is a false economy. ✅ #HigherEducation #IrishPolitics #Budget2027

📢 Statement from Frank Jones, General Secretary Public service pay talks are ongoing, and the indication from negotiators is that we should have a clearer picture by the end of this week. There is no certainty at this stage that the talks will produce an agreement capable of resolving the dispute. We remain hopeful, however, that the process will deliver an acceptable outcome for IFUT members. As soon as we have substantive news to share, we will update members without delay. Once again, congratulations and thanks to everyone who took part in our first day of industrial action. It was an enormous success and a powerful demonstration of our collective resolve. We know we can count on that same solidarity and commitment should further action be necessary. ✊ #IFUT #PublicServicePay #HigherEducation

IFUT General Secretary Frank Jones launches the “Case for Publicly Funded Higher Education” document at Leinster House as chair of the @irishcongress Group of Further and Higher Education Unions. Thanks to Senator @LauraHarmon01 for the invite! #HigherEducation #IFUT

⚖️ Labour Court rejects DPER veto on local bargaining in higher education. Time to get on with tackling precarious employment 📚 Read the full article: ifut.ie/content/labour-court… #IFUT #HigherEducation #LocalBargaining

🗳️ Meet Prof Patrick Paul Walsh, IFUT’s candidate for the Seanad by-election (Cultural & Educational Panel). 📚 UCD Professor 🌍 Ex-UN SDSN VP Education ⚖️ Evidence-based policy voice Full profile: ifut.ie/content/patrick-paul… #IFUT #SeanadByElection #HigherEducation

📣 The ICTU Public Services Committee has agreed to suspend the 21 October strike. Following intensive engagement, including direct intervention by the Taoiseach, a new process led by former Labour Court Chairman Kevin Foley will seek to establish the basis for formal WRC negotiations. Workers organised. That created leverage. Now we need to turn it into a settlement. Read more: ifut.ie/content/21-october-s… #IFUT #UnionStrike #HigherEducation

Members at the @RIAdawson sending a clear message to the Government - let’s negotiate on pay 💪 #strike #IFUT #highereducation

Solidarity to the @ucddublin strikers! 💪 IFUT members are out in force today across the major academic institutions in Ireland. We won’t back down! #IFUT #PublicSectorPay #HigherEducation

Spirits are high at the @DCU picket today. Solidarity ✊💙🩵 #IFUT #PublicSectorPay #HigherEducation

🪧 Picket line going strong at @MaynoothUni today. #PublicServicePay #IFUT #HigherEducation

👏Solidarity from our members at @MICLimerick on strike today 💚🤍

Solidarity from the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies picket line with @aliceeire expressing support 👏 #IFUT #PublicServicePay #Dublin

📣 Solidarity to our members at @tcddublin this morning on the picket line 👏 #PublicSectorPay #IFUT #HigherEducation #Dublin