WAGES NOW ACCOUNT FOR 75% OF UCD SPENDING - UCDSU

UCD Students' Union has branded the current spending on wages at the university as "unsustainable" and out of sync with the modern economic environment.

UCD SU President Paul Lynam made the remarks after new figures released today show 5 of the top 10 highest earners in education are employed by UCD according to Irish Times study.

President Lynam said "The level of pay and pensions for those of the top level are equally breathtaking and shocking when you consider we are facing the proposed reintroduction of third level fees."

"Students are being asked to pay fees in order to meet the cost of paying lavish wages."

We are now facing a situation where parents will be unable to afford to send their children to university but UCD still continues to reward those at the top with astronomical earnings."

"UCD SU is calling on the Government to urgently review the wages of top earners in the public sector without delay."

"Approximately 75% of all costs in UCD are now wage related and this compares very poorly with an average of 45% across the UK sector."

"All cuts to third level budgets are going to directly affect front line services and students but not impact on the highest earners."