Yesterday, the CAO’s website was hacked into. Today, third level education is again making headline news. Today’s Irish Times leads with ‘Third level funding must rise by €500m – report’. The report says that following the surge in student numbers, the current system of funding is unsustainable.
With colleges facing a 30 per cent increase in student numbers, the group of experts – led by economist Dr Colin Hunt – say that it’s essential that the money allocated needs to increase from €1.3billion to €1.8 billion by 2020.
It’s a good job we’ve got a buoyant economy with lots of spare cash swilling around in the coffers, then, isn’t it?
Meanwhile, Ivor Callely gets his regular name check – there’s been yet another complaint levelled against him, as two other Senators have been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Over on the Irish Independent, the big news is that motorists are to be hit by a €900 rise in motor tax if they use their work vehicles for family or social journeys. The rules, proposed by Environment Minister John Gormley, have been branded “silly and unenforceable†by The AA and will require drivers of commercial 4x4s and small vans to declare that their vehicles are used for business only.
These drivers can either pay the increased motor tax or risk getting caught and facing fines, or even prison.
The Indo also has a picture of Sean Penn, who was photographed on Upper Mount Street, Dublin sporting eyeliner and back-combed hair and looking like a cross between Robert Smith of The Cure and Russell Brand.
The paper explains why – the 50-year-old Oscar winner is in the capital to film ‘It Must Be The Place’ about an ageing rock legend who chooses to live out his retirement in the city.
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