A new report released by the Higher Education Authority reveals that women are underrepresented in senior academic positions across the country.

This is the first time a report of this kind which highlights the gender gap has been released by the authority. The figures were gathered last year.

According to RTE, the report shows that just 14%-20% of professorships in Ireland’s top universities are positions held by women.

The worst university to represent women is NUI Galway with 79% of senior posts held by men.

UCC follows with 73% of senior posts held by men, NUI Maynooth at 72%, UCD stands at 71% while 67% are men in Trinity College.

The report also stated that few Institutes of Technology have quite a wide gender gap.