Government plans to introduce greater accountability for the third-level sector, which receives about €1.5 billion in public funding, make sense on the face of it. The Dáil’shas raked over dozens of high-profile examples of inappropriate spending by third-level institutions in recent years. They include spending millions of euro on unsanctioned severance packages for staff and pensions for private contractors, as well as generous expenses for relocating staff and lavish retirement parties.
Even though the bulk of misspending is linked to a small number of institutions, the examples have shaken confidence in the wider third-level system. Gaps in legislation mean that the, the statutory body over the sector, has struggled in some cases to hold institutions to account. The outline of the Government’s proposed legislation for reforming the Higher Education Authority Act could help address this by giving the regulatory body sweeping powers to carry out reviews into the performance of third-level colleges. It would allow for the appointment of an “observer” to sit on the governing body of colleges where there are concerns. In addition, it could withhold or request a refund of State grants.