Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 March 2004
190 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the financial crisis being faced by the State’s universities due to the series of Government funding cutbacks to third level education; if he has plans to reverse the cutbacks he has introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9798/04]
View answerAn amount of €630.5 million has been provided in the 2004 Estimates for universities and HEA designated institutions. I have no plans to provide additional funding to the sector this year.
From 1997 to 2004 there has been an increase of almost €300 million in the recurrent provision to the university sector. This represents an increase of approximately 90% over this period. Overall funding, capital and current, for the wider higher education sector will stand at €1.48 billion in 2004. This is up €631 million or 74% on 1997 levels.
I am aware that the universities will be challenged in the short term by the constraints on recurrent Exchequer funding placed on them in 2004, having regard to overall cost pressures. I appreciate that individual institutions are required to find economies and to become more streamlined in some of their operations in order to reconcile available budgets with pre-existing demands and commitments. This must be viewed, however, in the context of overall increases in investment in higher education over recent years and the Government's longer term strategic objective for excellence in the sector.
In relation to capital development in the third level sector the Deputy is probably aware that the Higher Education Authority, at my request, is carrying out a review in order to assess the entire set of demands in all publicly funded third level institutions, to establish prioritisation and agree rephasing.
It is the intention of the review group to have a report submitted to the HEA by the end of March. The authority will then advise me of its views. I will then make decisions in respect of the capital investment programme for the third level sector in the context of the capital envelope of funds available to me.
While all major projects at third level remain paused pending the outcome of the work of the review group, the Deputy will know that I have made provision of €32.5 million in the 2004 Estimates for the capital element of cycle three of the programme for research in third level institutions this year. This allocation is a clear recognition of the Government's commitment to the programme, which will play a key role in developing world-class capabilities in research and innovation.
