The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has called for increased direct government funding for Higher Education in advance of publication of the Cassells Report on funding for the sector.

Two key organisations for the charity sector, Fundraising Ireland (FI) and ICTR, have voted by a significant majority to merge into a single organisation which will be known as Charities Ireland. The decision was taken at separate EGMs of both organisations held in Dublin on Friday, June 16th and followed extensive internal discussion by the two existing Boards and member consultation.

The Social Enterprise Task Force (SETF) has welcomed the announcement that Minister Ann Phelan, TD has been assigned responsibility for Social Enterprise. The work will involve implementation of commitments in the Programme for Government and the recommendations of a recent Forfás Report on the sector.

A major new study involving almost 1,200 academics calls for ‘significantly increased and sustained levels of investment’ and increased staffing levels to meet continued growth in student numbers. Almost three-quarters of respondents feel their working conditions are deteriorating.

Loans of up to €2,000 for at-risk households advocated in Report funded by Social Finance Foundation and Central Bank of Ireland.