Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 February 2005
39 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science her proposals for dealing with the funding difficulties in the third level education sector; if her attention has been drawn to the significant funding problems in the sector at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3005/05]
View answer54 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on a warning from the Higher Education Authority that universities face a serious shortfall in their State grants this year; if she is satisfied that State support in this respect is adequate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3019/05]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 54 together.
An amount of €671 million has been allocated to the university sector for 2005. This is an increase of over €40 million or approximately 6.5% on the 2004 provision for the sector. The overall funding, capital and current, for the third level sector which I secured in the 2005 Estimates will stand at some €1.58 billion. The additional funding being provided in 2005 marks a return to the significant upward trend in recurrent funding for the sector and will assist in meeting pay and other cost pressures. I have no plans to provide further additional funding to the sector this year.
The OECD review of Irish higher education highlighted the key role of the sector for our future social and economic development. This echoes the report of the Government enterprise strategy group, which states that Ireland's economic development, and the social dividends that flow from that, will depend to a large degree on knowledge and innovation. Supporting our higher education institutions in playing that central role is a major policy priority for the Government.
The OECD report also identifies the need to align funding allocations with the achievement of national and sectoral objectives. I support that principle. A number of institutions are embarking on far-reaching programmes of internal restructuring and reform. Some are further down that road than others. These efforts are crucial to ensuring that, collectively, we can develop the capacity to meet the wider challenges that we face. I want to ensure that funding allocation decisions for the coming years will support and promote our wider strategic objectives.
The Deputies will also note that I announced a 35% increase in research funding as part of the 2005 Estimates. This is evidence of my personal, and indeed the Government's, commitment to research programmes, which play a vital role in developing world-class capabilities in research and innovation and give the higher education institutions the necessary resources to meet the challenges of the knowledge society in Ireland.
