Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 April 2015
19. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, details of State funding in the third level sector, per student and per year, from 2006 to 2015, including the number of students, and the total State funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15510/15]
View answerDetails on overall third level funding for the years requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. According to the Higher Education System Performance Report by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), core expenditure per student by higher education institutions (excluding research expenditure) has declined by 15% in the five years to 2013 with the bulk of this decline accounted for by the growth in student numbers.
This report is available on the HEA's website, the link to which I will arrange to have sent to the Deputy, and includes details on student numbers at third level.
Details of year-on-year increases in the Student Contribution will also be provided to the Deputy.
An Expert Group, chaired by Peter Cassells, is currently examining future funding options for higher education. The objective is to identify a range of approaches that, combined, will achieve a sustainable funding base to address the continual expansion of the sector while protecting the quality of education. The report will help inform decision-making as to the future funding of the sector.
HIGHER EDUCATION - €000s
EXPENDITURE 2006-2015
|
- |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Current |
€1,683.4 |
€1,755.7 |
€1,860.7 |
€1,853.7 |
€1,771.4 |
€1,688.1 |
€1,595.0 |
€1,537.5 |
€1,471.8 |
€1,380.0 |
|
Capital |
€116.0 |
€159.2 |
€163.1 |
€201.2 |
€164.2 |
€79.0 |
€56.2 |
€69.1 |
€79.1 |
€83.7 |
|
TOTAL |
€1,799.4 |
€1,914.9 |
€2,023.8 |
€2,054.9 |
€1,935.6 |
€1,767.1 |
€1,651.2 |
€1,606.6 |
€1,550.9 |
€1,463.7 |
Note: The current expenditure figures above include recurrent funding (core grant and free fees), funding provided under the Student Grant Scheme, higher education research funding and other higher education funding.
Details of Year on Year Increases in the Student Services Charge/Student Contribution:
|
Year |
Amount - € |
% Increase in Charge |
|
1996/97 |
190 |
- |
|
1997/98 |
317 |
66% |
|
1998/99 |
330 |
4% |
|
1999/20 |
353 |
7% |
|
2000/01 |
371 |
5% |
|
2001/02 |
396 |
7% |
|
2002/03 |
670 |
69% |
|
2003/04 |
670 |
0% |
|
2004/05 |
750 |
12% |
|
2005/06 |
775 |
3% |
|
2006/07 |
800 |
3% |
|
2007/08 |
825 |
3.1% |
|
2008/09 |
900 |
9% |
|
2009/10 |
Up to 1,500 |
Up to 67% |
|
2010/11 |
Up to 1,500 |
0% |
|
2011/12* |
2,000 |
33% |
|
2012/13 |
2,250 |
12.5% |
|
2013/14 |
2,500 |
11.1% |
|
2014/15 |
2,750 |
10% |
* From 2011/12 the charge is known as the Student Contribution
