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Third Level Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 June 2014

Thursday, 5 June 2014

Questions (41)

Finian McGrath

Question:

41. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will support the continued existence of a long-standing reputable third level education institution (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24035/14]

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Written answers

The College to which the Deputy refers is a private college and is not an approved institution under the Higher Education Authority (HEA). It does not receive core funding, however, my Department provides grant in lieu of tuition fee funding to the College in respect of three approved undergraduate courses. Whilst there is a cap on the number of students to which such free fees funding applies, the College has not reached that number since the cap's introduction. Funding of €430,000 for the 2013/14 academic year was allocated to the College in respect of this funding.

A wide ranging reform programme of the higher education system is being implemented arising from the modernisation framework in the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030. That report recommended that continuing funding support for institutions such as that referred to by the Deputy, who receive limited public funding for specific programmes, should be a matter for the HEA and subject to ongoing review in the context of quality outcomes, overall demand and available provision within relevant regional clusters.

I welcome the fact that the college has stated that it intends to wind down in a phased basis in order to facilitate as much as possible the completion of students' studies.

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