The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has prepared and circulated its Pre-Budget Submission 2027 to Government, opposition parties and key policymakers, setting out the measures required in the forthcoming Budget to address the continuing challenges facing Ireland’s higher education system.
The submission has been shared widely with Ministers, Government Departments, opposition education and higher education spokespersons, members of the Oireachtas and other relevant policymakers. IFUT have met with some political parties and policymakers to discuss our proposals in advance of Budget 2027. We remain available to meet with others in advance of the budget details being finalised.
At the heart of our submission is a straightforward argument: Ireland cannot deliver a high-quality, accessible and internationally respected higher education system without investing properly in the people who teach, research and support it.
For too long, higher education has been expected to accommodate rising student numbers, increasing workloads, expanding research expectations and growing administrative demands without the corresponding investment in staffing and infrastructure.
Sustainable Core Funding for Higher Education
IFUT is calling for a significant and sustained increase in core public funding for higher education.
Successive reports and Government commitments have acknowledged the funding deficit within the sector, but the underlying problem has yet to be adequately addressed. Higher education institutions require predictable, sustainable State funding rather than continued reliance on temporary initiatives, competitive funding streams and once-off measures.
IFUT believes that Ireland should move towards levels of investment comparable with other well-performing OECD countries and that funding decisions must recognise the central role of academic and other university staff in delivering quality education and research.
Addressing Unsustainable Staff-Student Ratios
One of the clearest consequences of underfunding is the exceptionally high staff-student ratio experienced across Irish higher education.
The expansion of student numbers has not been matched by a proportionate increase in permanent academic staffing. The result is larger classes, increased workloads, less time for individual student engagement and growing pressure on teaching and research.
IFUT is calling for a sustained programme of recruitment of permanent academic staff, with a clear objective of bringing Irish staff-student ratios progressively into line with international norms.
Investment in additional academic staff is not simply an employment issue. It is fundamental to the quality of the education received by students.
Ending the Dependence on Precarious Employment
Precarious employment remains deeply embedded within Irish higher education.
Too many lecturers, researchers, tutors and other staff continue to work on short-term, hourly-paid or insecure contracts, often for extended periods. This is damaging for staff, students and institutions alike.
Budget 2027 should provide the resources necessary to support secure and sustainable employment, including the conversion of work of an ongoing nature into appropriate permanent posts.
IFUT is also seeking meaningful progress on sustainable career structures for researchers. Ireland cannot aspire to become a leading research and innovation economy while significant numbers of the researchers upon whom that ambition depends face continuing employment insecurity and uncertain career prospects.
Making Higher Education More Affordable – Without Further Underfunding Institutions
IFUT supports measures to reduce the financial burden of higher education on students and families, including the removal of the student contribution.
However, any reduction or abolition of student fees must be fully replaced by additional Exchequer funding.
Improving affordability for students cannot be achieved by transferring the financial burden onto already underfunded universities. A publicly funded higher education system requires the State to accept responsibility for meeting the genuine cost of providing education.
Investing in the People Who Deliver Higher Education
IFUT's submission also stresses that investment in higher education must be understood as investment in its workforce.
Academic staff have experienced increasing workloads and responsibilities, while the sector has undergone enormous expansion and change. Universities need sufficient permanent staffing to allow academics to teach, conduct research, engage with students and contribute to the wider academic life and governance of their institutions.
The quality of higher education ultimately depends upon the working conditions of the people delivering it.
A Strong Public Higher Education System is an Investment in Ireland
IFUT is urging Government and all political parties to view higher education spending not simply as a cost but as a strategic investment in Ireland's future.
Universities contribute directly to economic development, regional growth, research and innovation, public services, cultural life and Ireland's ability to respond to major social, technological and environmental challenges.
That contribution cannot be taken for granted.
Ireland needs a properly funded public higher education system in which staff have secure employment, students receive the individual attention and educational experience they deserve, researchers can build sustainable careers and institutions have the resources required to fulfil their public mission.
IFUT General Secretary Frank Jones said:
“There has been widespread acknowledgement for many years that Irish higher education is underfunded. What we now need is action.
“Our universities have expanded enormously, but investment in permanent academic staffing has simply not kept pace. The consequences can be seen in excessive workloads, unacceptable staff-student ratios and the continued reliance on precarious employment.
“Budget 2027 provides Government with an opportunity to begin addressing these problems in a meaningful way. Investment in higher education is an investment in our students, our research capacity, our economy and ultimately in Ireland's future.
“We have circulated our submission widely across Government and the opposition because we want higher education to be a political priority in the forthcoming Budget. IFUT is ready to engage with all parties and policymakers on how these proposals can be delivered.”
IFUT will continue to engage with Government, opposition parties and other policymakers in the period leading up to Budget 2027 to press the case for the investment necessary to build a properly funded, publicly provided and sustainable higher education system.