http___www.universitytimes.ie_2016_05_moilliu-on-rialtas-aris-maidir-le-cinnti-faoin-ardoideachas-ce-gur-feidir-go-mbeidh-gne-dearfach-leis-sin__1.xml
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The programme for government negotiated between Fine Gael and the smattering of independents, several of whom have joined the ranks of cabinet, does something for higher education that the last government was also very good at: delaying decisions about sector that everyone from the CEO of the Higher Education Authority to a state body responsible for quality in education has said is in complete crisis. This is not the first time the Editorial Board of The University Times has noted that politicians often prefer to talk about solving problems for as long as possible before actually spending the money to solve them. It is also not the second or third time that the board has complained about persistent inaction when it comes to the higher education funding crisis. The news that a cross-party Oireachtas committee is to review the findings of the yet-to-be-published Cassells report is just that: another way of talking about the funding crisis and what needs to be done without any commitment to when a decision is going to be made, or any indication of who is ultimately responsible for making it. Never mind that the report should have been published in December, around ten weeks before the general election – allowing parties to assess its findings and commit to a model in manifestos. Never mind that the last government had already commissioned a report on funding, one that was completed in 2011, another oft-repeated point in the pages of The University Times. It is obviously essential that the issue needs more analysis and more debate, even when everyone is agreed that action needs to happen now, and should have happened long ago. There is, however, something vaguely positive to be taken from the decision to have a cross-party committee review it. With there being only one government minister who either is not a current or former Fine Gael member, leaving it up to the government alone could very easily leave us imposed with loan schemes and higher tuition fees. With Richard Bruton the first Fine Gael Minister for Education in 30 years, there is some solace in this committee news, especially given suspicions that committees are going to play a more powerful role in forming consensus during the lifetime of this government.
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Déanann clár an rialtais a bhí aontaithe ag Fine Gael agus an smeadar teachtaí neamhspleách, agus roinnt acu i measc na comh-aireachta, rud a bhí déanta go minic ag an rialtas deireanach: moill a chur le cinntí faoi ghéarchéim maoinithe a deir gach duine gur cás práinne atá i gceist, príomh-oifigeach feidhmeach an Údaráis um Ardoideachas agus comhlacht stáit atá freagrach as cáilíocht san ardoideachas ina measc. Ní an chéad uair atá i gceist a bhfuil sé aitheanta ag an mBord Eagarthóireachta gur fearr le polaiteoirí labhairt faoi fhadhbanna a réiteach comh fada agus is féidir roimh airgead ar bith a chaitheamh chun iad a réiteach i ndáiríre. Ní an dara nó an tríú uair a bhfuil gearán déanta ag an mbord faoin easpa leanúnach gníomhaithe maidir leis an ngéarchéim maoinithe san ardoideachas. Níl ach sampla breise den rud céanna sin atá sa nuacht go n-athbhreithneoidh coiste trasphairtí an Oireachtais ar thorthaí neamhfhoilsithe na tuairisce Cassells: bealach eile ina labhrófar faoin ngéarchéim agus a bhfuil le déanamh maidir léi, gan gealltanas ar bith faoi spriocdháta le haghaigh cinnidh, ná eolas faoina mbeidh freagrach as cinneadh a dhéanamh air sin. Ná bac le go raibh foilsiú na tuairisce ag teastail i mí Nollag – timpeall deich seachtain roimh an ollthoghchán – chun ligint do pháirtithe athbhreithniú ar a torthaí agus geallatanas a dhéanamh ar chóras maoinithe ina bhforógraí. Ná bac le go raibh tuairisc coimisiúnaithe ag an rialtas deireanach cheana féin, ceann a chríochnaíodh sa bhliain 2011, pointe a atá á athrá go minic ar leathanaigh The University Times. Is léir go bhfuil níos mó anailíse agus díospóireachta in easnamh ar an bhfadhb seo, cé go bhfuil gach duine in aontas go bhfuil gníomhú ag teastáil anois, agus go raibh sé ag teastáil le fada. Tá gné dearfach éiginnte amháin faoin athbhreithniú a dhéanfaidh an coiste trasphairtí, áfach. Níl ach aire amháin nach bhfuil ina bhall, nó ina iarbhall Fine Gael, agus b’éasca an rud é scéimí iasachta agus táillí níos airde a chur i bhfeidhm, dá mbeadh an cinneadh á dhéanamh ag an rialtas amháin. Agus Richard Bruton mar an chéad aire oideachais Fine Gael sna 30 bliain deireanach, tá beagán sóláis sa nuacht sin faoi choistí. Sin níos suntasaí fós nuair a aithnítear go ndeirtear go mbeidh ról níos lárnaí ag coistí le linn réime an rialtais seo.