Sir, – The Government’s proposed reforms to the student visa system, as outlined in your article, appear less about genuine balancing and more about a headline-grabbing “crackdown” on immigration.
International students inject €3.7 billion into our economy annually, sustaining jobs, local businesses, and vital education infrastructure (“Reforming lucrative student visas a balancing act for Government,” February 4th).
If the Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless, truly worries about universities’ “dependence” on overseas fees, why not address chronic underfunding? Ireland’s higher education system lags Europe, with per-student funding declines, infrastructure shortfalls, and reliance on international income to fill gaps left by inadequate public investment.
Budget 2026 offers some research boosts, but core shortfalls persist at €307 million, forcing institutions to chase fees just to survive.
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As we eye sustainable growth, let’s fund our universities properly rather than risk economic self-harm for short-term optics. This is a pivotal moment to champion education as an asset, not a migration flashpoint. – Yours, etc.
LIAM COSGROVE,
Fairview,
Dublin 3.
