Academic staff at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) have agreed to ballot for industrial action to oppose cuts amid what they say is the “deteriorating financial position of the university and the damaging effect it is having on staff and students”.
At a meeting today members of the Teachers Union of Ireland called for information on the current size of the college’s financial deficit and for an independent inquiry to examine what has caused it.
Earlier this year the university was put into special measures by the Higher Education Authority as it struggled with a deficit of €8.6 million.
Invoking legislation to institute a formal review the HEA said in February that it had “serious concerns” about TU Dublin’s performance in managing and controlling its financial situation.
That review is ongoing.
But as the new academic year gets under way the college’s ongoing financial difficulties and related cuts remain the focus of considerable staff concern.
That concern centres on what staff say are a large and growing number of staff vacancies that are not being filled. They say schools within the university have been left with no option but to cut back on or cancel classes for students.
At their meeting today teaching staff agreed not to take on extra teaching hours to cover gaps in provision.
Last March academic staff passed motions of no confidence in the TU Dublin senior leadership.
That same month, the then TU Dublin president David FitzPatrick announced his intention to step down in May.
The university’s deficit has been attributed to a fall in student enrolment and to rising costs.
