IPPN

Batt's charm offensive

Published: 23 September 2008

Irish Times

Dark days: Irish universities complain of operational deficits totalling more than €20 million, and say they are managing on about half the budget available to colleges in countries such as Britain and Denmark.Dark days: Irish universities complain of operational deficits totalling more than €20 million, and say they are managing on about half the budget available to colleges in countries such as Britain and Denmark.
Photograph: Frank Miller

TEACHER'S PET: That row over the projected revenue from third-level fees should have been very bad news for Batt O'Keeffe and his team.

Essentially, figures which grossly exaggerated the take from fees were leaked. Worse still, the Minister admits he saw the figures before they were released and failed to notice anything amiss - even though they were out by €400 million!

So when the hacks tackled the Minister on the issue at the Vocational school managers conference in Galway last Thursday, they should have been shooting at an open goal. But Batt came out with his hands up, admitted it was all dreadfully embarrassing and took it on the chin. These things happen, said an apologetic Batt.

It was another example of how the new Minister's genial, modest way is helping to keep him out of trouble. But Batt's team will know that this was a lucky escape, helped by last week's busy news agenda - and the fact that the Dáil is still in recess. Any repeat of last week's shambles would be very serious - especially with the talented Opposition team of Ruairí Quinn and Brian Hayes waiting to pounce.

Is the Government's drive to merge all those State quangos about to focus on the education sector? Fine Gael's Brian Hayes has already pointed to a possible rationalisation involving the National Council for Special Education, the National Educational Psychological Service and the special needs section of the HSE. There is also loose talk of a possible merger involving HETAC, FETAC and the National Qualifications Authority. Happily, the Department of Education is dampening down such speculation and no proposals are on the table. The hope is that the various education agencies will be spared in the forthcoming cull. But, as one observer notes, no one is safe in current circumstances.
With more than 25,000 visitors, the Irish Times' Higher Options - which is self-financing - was a huge success last week.

But what now for Opportunities the big FÁS jamboree next year?

As Brian Mooney has pointed out, last year's event was backed up by expensive, State-sponsored billboard campaign featuring model Georgia Salpa.

The question now - will the ubiquitous FÁS girl fall victim to the cutback mania sweeping through the public service ?