asked the Minister for Education if his attention has been drawn to a recent speech by the President of UCD (details supplied) criticising the effects of Government cut-backs in higher education spending; and if he will ensure that there are no reductions in the quantity or quality of education in this area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Higher Education Spending.
8.
I am aware of the statement to which reference is made in the question from the Deputy.
The total allocation in Vote 34 —Higher Education—for 1980 was made by the Government after very full and careful regard for all relevant considerations. I am satisfied that the provision in the Vote is fully adequate to the requirements of the situation.
Does the Minister not accept the statement by the President of University College, Dublin, to the effect that cuts will have to be made in university education if they are to fit within the budget he has given them this year?
All I can tell the House is that the allocation for 1980 was £45,356,000 for Higher Education, which was an increase on the figure of £41,095,400 in the previous year.
Is the Minister aware that there are universities in these islands which have twice the number of staff for the same number of students that some of our university institutions have and would he regard that as a satisfactory state of affairs?
I read the papers today in which those statistics were given. I did not have time to check their accuracy as yet.
Can the Minister give no ray of hope to the presidents and the governing bodies of these university institutions that he will make further money available to them in the course of this year so that they will not have to go into the red to maintain essential services and the quality of the education?
The Minister is not in the business of radiating rays of hope.