WATCH: Candidates tackle education issues at University of Limerick debate

UNIVERSITY of Limerick hosted an election debate on the Future Funding of Higher Education earlier this week, with four candidates giving their views and promises regarding third-level education in Ireland. 

A 200-strong audience of UL students, staff and invited guests gathered for the debate on campus this Wednesday, which was moderated by Professor Stephen Kinsella.

Labour TD Jan O’Sullivan, Fine Gael Senator Maria Byrne, Green Party Councillor Brian Leddin and Aontú candidate Michael Ryan took part in the hour-long debate. 

It comes on foot of the representative bodies for the public higher education system - IUA, THEA and the USI - uniting to make the case for investment in higher education by the next Government.

Speaking to the candidates and the audience prior to the debate, UL President Dr Des Fitzgerald said: “At this juncture, it is important that we clearly from the political parties what they are going to do to make third level university funding a national priority.

“In particular, I hope that we will hear that they will invest in UL, invest in the future of this great University. We need to know how will a new government support UL so that it can continue to meet the ambitions of our region?”

Each of the candidates were asked the same question and given a chance to respond, before the debate continued and questions were asked from the floor.

The question that was put to each was: “The public’s main priorities in this election seem to be health and housing. Higher education has been underfunded since the crisis. We know higher education is important both as an investment in our people and for the future of our economy. What will your priorities be for higher education over the lifetime of the next Dáil?”

Stephen Kinsella said the aim of the debate was that the participants and the audience would “come away with a better understanding of the priorities for higher education and the likelihood of policies coming from the parties that will actually positively impact our students, but also our researchers into the next four or five years”.

He added that it was “vital that students understand that policies have a direct impact on their welfare and it is really vital that students understand that their voice is what needs to be heard.