MTU seeks clarity from Budget on funding for third-level education
Professor Maggie Cusack (second from left), President of Munster Technological University was the guest speaker at the Cork Chamber of Commerce business breakfast in association with RDJ and media sponsors the Irish Examiner at the Kingsley Hotel in Cork today. Also at the event were from left, Jamie Olden, Managing Partner at RDJ LLP; Rob Horgan, Cork Chamber President, Karen O'Donoghue, Managing Director at the Irish Examiner and Conor Healy, CEO of Cork Chamber. Picture: Dan Linehan
The president of the Munster Technological University (MTU) said they are hoping for positive news in next week's Budget in relation to funding for third-level education.
Professor Maggie Cusack was speaking at the Cork Chamber Business Breakfast on Wednesday where she said multi-annual funding was essential for the third-level sector and said Ireland's sons and daughters "deserved" the best education that could be possibly provided.
"Multi-annual funding is really important," she said. "The government themselves prepared the report 'Funding the Future' where they identified the €307m per annum funding gap in Irish universities."
"We all know about the National Training Fund that sits at €1.5bn, there’s a huge fund there. So we really look forward to good news in the Budget of multi-annual investment in our third level.
"Because our sons and daughters deserve the best education that we can possibly provide. Where we can do that as a society and an economy we benefit in ways we cannot imagine."
"I’m of the view that our sons and daughters deserve a world-class education. Why would we settle for anything less. Why would good enough be enough?"
In her speech to business leaders, Professor Cusack outlined her own path in education to leading the MTU, one of five technological universities in Ireland.
The MTU was formed in 2021 through the amalgamation of the Cork Institute of Technology and the Institute of Technology Tralee.
It is currently split across various campuses in Tralee, Bishopstown, the Cork School of Music, The Crawford College of Art & Design and the National Maritime College in Ringaskiddy.
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