In a communication addressed to President Prof David FitzPatrick, the heads of 24 departments at Technological University Dublin (TUD) raised a number of concerns about inadequate financial governance at the institution. The letter, sent on 13th February, explicitly outlines numerous contentious issues that the department leaders have identified with the university’s financial management. They suggested that these problems are negatively impacting the university’s ability to adhere to the expected standards.
The document pointed to inconsistencies with the particular budget allocation for staff salaries and indicated that specified funding from external sources might have been improperly used. However, the university refuted this latter accusation, categorically stating that such diversions could not have occurred.
According to the letter by senior university staff, the institution’s deteriorating financial situation is negatively impacting the departments and the quality of education they provide. Further issues included a lack of clarity regarding budgetary allocation, unauthorized withdrawals from department funding, and alterations in how joint initiatives’ surpluses are distributed among the departments and the institution.
On the whole, the letter stated that glaring lapses in financial governance are leading to widespread concern and frustration. While acknowledging the possible financial challenges the university could be facing, the signatories made clear that such issues cannot justify a decline in governance standards.
Consequently, a management meeting was held late in February among the heads of departments to discuss the university’s financial situation and to strategize on growing student numbers. As expressed by the university, various task groups have been established to resolve the highlighted problems and to seize the identified opportunities. The Finance team is currently holding meetings with faculty leadership to ensure budget alignment and to address any outstanding issues.
Prof FitzPatrick, in a communication to the department heads, requested anyone with knowledge about specific cases of fund misdirection to report the same to the university’s chief operations officer. Dr Charles Larkin, the chairman of TUD’s governing body, noted that they would be actively involved in areas of the institution’s management that higher management typically handles, following criticism from the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
Dr Alan Wall, the CEO of the HEA, has communicated his significant worries regarding the seeming lack of expediency, attentiveness, and appropriate conduct by the managing organisation. These concerns are related to the financial issues highlighted in multiple reports since the problems first became publicly known at the university the previous year.
Dr Wall emphasised that the managing organisation has both a fiduciary obligation and legal responsibility to effectively govern the institution. Their job is to guarantee the university’s lasting feasibility and durability. They have been provided with a two-month period to review their management of the situation and share their results with the HEA.
In a communication to staff dispatched the previous Monday, Professor FitzPatrick confirmed an anticipated budget shortfall of €8.6 million for the 2022/23 academic year. However, he contextualised this problem, stating it emerged due to a widely recognised underfunding issue in the higher education sector.
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