Madam, – Contrary to Donncha Kavanagh’s assertion (Letters, January 26th, referring to “Sutherland says number of universities must be cut”, Home News, January 23rd), I am not of the opinion that Ireland has too many universities. My contention is that we cannot have seven world-class comprehensive universities with the full range of educational and research programmes.
Ireland may be better served by a small number of comprehensive research universities which can compete with the best in the world and a number of more specialised universities and other institutions which either focus on certain areas in which they have critical mass or which build on the profile of, and are critical to, the ongoing success of their region.
Differentiation and specialisation should not be seen as either enhancing or diminishing the contributions of different institutions. Rather they should be seen as the strategic use of valuable national resources. Also, we need to introduce and accept greater meritocracy leading to differentiation in the allocation of third-level funding where appropriate.
Mr Kavanagh makes reference to Finland and Sweden. Their position is rather different to ours as a result of substantially greater funding. – Yours, etc,