Vol. 560 No. 1
512 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the impact of the reduction in funding to the IT sector in 2003; the extent of staff and service cuts he envisages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1971/03]
The recurrent allocation for the technological sector of higher education in 2003 is €372.9 million, which is approximately 1% less than the 2002 Estimates provision. However, when compared with the 2002 outturn, which takes account of additional income from the increase in the charge for examinations, registration and student services, the 2003 Estimates provision represents a 1% increase.
The funding provision for 2003 was decided having regard to the current economic constraints and to the Government's commitments and priorities. In this regard it should however be noted that in the last five years there has been a 95% increase in the provision for the technological sector as the recurrent grant increased from €192.7 million in 1997 to €376.1 million in 2002. In the circumstances it will be a matter for the institutes to manage their resources in 2003 and where necessary to effect economies to keep expenditure within approved budgets. Under the terms of the Regional Technical Colleges Acts and the Dublin Institute of Technology Acts the control and management of the institutes are the responsibility of their management authorities.
513 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science when the IT sector will receive its provisional funding for 2003; if he will delay payment of funds in a similar manner to 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1972/03]
My Department must receive the budget submissions of all the institutes of technology before decisions can be made on the funding allocations for individual institutes for 2003. Budgets will be approved and the institutes will be advised of their allocations as soon as possible after the required information is received from all institutes. There is a system is in place for each institute to claim funds as required and there was no delay in the processing of these claims in 2002.
