USI has criticised delays in extending the Freedom of Information Act to universities and institutes of technology. The union says lack of information is preventing meaningful debate on how money is spent at third level.

In July 1999, Minister of State Martin Cullen announced that freedom-of-information provisions would be extended to a wide range of institutions in the public sector.

According to the new USI president, Julian de Spainn, the Act was due to cover third-level colleges some time this year, but has now been delayed until July. ainn said USI learned of the delay, ironically, from documents received under the Freedom of Information Act.

USI says it has experienced major difficulties accessing basic information regarding third-level computer and library facilities. "It took us 18 months to access the statistics we required on libraries and we are still finding it difficult to access statistics on computers. It is the right of the student and taxpayer to see where and how their money is being spent," says Colm Jordan, USI education officer.

The union is also keen to access information on drop-out rates on courses at third-level institutions in light of recent reports suggesting that 40 per cent of IT students fail to complete their courses.

"Timely and accurate information is needed if the dropout issue is to be tackled," Jordan says. "We would also like to have access to exam-result breakdowns, as there is anecdotal evidence that certain colleges award more honours than others. Access to information may dispel such myths and enable a full debate on academic standards in our third-level institutions."

A spokesman for Minister of State Martin Cullen said that, according to the agreed timetable for extending the Act, there has been a delay - but only in relation to the voluntary bodies that receive State funding. He said organisations such as the Combat Poverty Agency, the Social Welfare Tribunal and National Safety Council will now come within the remit of the Act in October, instead of last July as originally scheduled.

Universities and ITs, the spokesperson said, were timetabled to be taken in after the extension of the Act to training and enterprise bodies such as FAS and the IDA, which will be now be covered by the Act from January.

The Information Commissioner, Kevin Murphy, said his understanding of increasing the scope of the Act was that it would be on a phased basis, which he said was advantageous.