Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2021
6. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the proactive steps his Department is taking to address university fees, which are the highest in the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36821/21]
View answerI understand there might be slight duplication on this. Based on the figures that are available to me, it seems that since the UK, including Northern Ireland, as the Minister pointed out, left the EU, Ireland has taken over the title of having the highest university fees in the EU. What proactive steps is the Department taking to address university fees, which are the highest in Europe currently?
I thank the Deputy for the question. First, I would like to see our registration fees reduced. We need to do it in a way that is sustainable. I often think that when we talk about our registration fee, we sometimes ignore our reality, which is that not far off 50% - I think it is around 48% - of students have their registration fee paid in full or in part by the State through the SUSI grant scheme. I say that because if there is a student watching this debate, he or she might think that his or her family would not be in the position to pay the €3,000 fee. I want that student to know that for almost one in two students, the SUSI support scheme covers the cost of registration in full or in part.
In respect of what I am doing proactively about the issue, there are two things. First, a review of SUSI is being completed. We have completed the consultation on it. I am due to receive the interim report very shortly, probably during the parliamentary recess, and the full report around September. It will look at how we can further improve the SUSI scheme. We have had many discussions in this House about how to treat part-time students, income thresholds and people who live far away. The costs of those who can commute to college every day are significantly different from those who have to rent accommodation. The SUSI review and how we can improve the system comprise part of the proactive steps we are taking. We have already taken some measures this year in terms of increasing the level of grants for postgraduate students.
The second part of it is how all of this knits together with the sustainable funding model for higher education, and how we make sure as part of that that we address the issues of access and inclusion. Both the SUSI review and the sustainable funding model will come to the fore very much in the autumn. I hope we can make progress on both fronts.
I believe we have the right system in place here in Ireland.
However, I also believe we can take steps to ensure the State pays the majority of fees while reducing the student contribution. I appeal to the Minister to continue to examine ways in which that student contribution can be reduced. Deputy Harris is the first Minister I have heard speak about value for money in this Chamber. I am a big believer in the taxpayer getting value for money, so I appreciate that. Investment in education yields a massive return through creating a highly skilled workforce and helping to drive innovation and research. With this in mind, I hope the Minister's Department can take these points on board and bring about some reforms in that regard.
Absolutely. Let me be really clear. While I am proud of the SUSI support scheme, which supports tens of thousands of students who may not otherwise be able to access higher education, that is not to say that I believe the current system is satisfactory, because I do not. A key commitment in the programme for Government was to carry out a comprehensive review of SUSI and how it operates. That is now coming to fruition. It is interesting to note that we had over 9,000 responses to that survey, mainly from students. There were also 250 written submissions from groups ranging from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to IBEC. All of them gave their views on establishing a student grant support scheme that would be fit for purpose. With that report landing alongside the sustainable funding model in the autumn, I believe we will be able to get to the point the Deputy has spoken about. I often make the point to Cabinet colleagues and to anyone else who will listen that while we spend a lot of money on education, it is an investment. It is an investment not just in our people and our citizens but also in our future economic well-being. The battle for the future well-being of this country will rely on human capital and investing in people. I know the Deputy and I share that view.
In the interest of not repeating my points further, I will address the Minister and the Minister of State regarding the Minister of State's remarks on sectoral requirements. There are massive sectoral requirements, particularly for skills based in rural Ireland such as fishing, farming and haulage. We have to look at approaches other than the apprenticeship model. I do not wish to labour the point but, when I was president of the Irish Road Haulage Association, we brought an apprenticeship programme to SOLAS but it never got off the ground. The education and training board subsequently took it up. It is a very successful programme and is oversubscribed. In light of the skills shortage in that sector, I appeal to the Minister to look at the European model, which involves lowering the minimum age to apply for a licence to drive heavy goods vehicles, HGVs, and commercial vehicles to 16. One can attain a licence to drive an agricultural tractor at that age. When one is driving a tractor, one is virtually driving a computer. They are massive machines. I cannot see the difference. We have to look at this matter. These jobs are set out as eligible for critical skills permits. It is much better to have home-grown workers. It would be much better to entertain the CAO process, to lower the figures and to look after our own, particularly given the current high unemployment rate.
I will address the Deputy's remarks. She is right with regard to regional skills needs. One of the functions of the new national apprenticeships office will be to identify such needs and to liaise with all relevant stakeholders. The Deputy cited the road haulage industry in that regard. We have seen that the new sector-specific apprenticeships we have developed, led by consortia, are often specific to particular parts of the country. The education and training boards in these parts of the country take on the challenge following demand from the sector within those geographical regions. It is something of which we are very aware and conscious. I note the Deputy's remarks with regard to lowering the age at which one can drive HGVs. That is a big undertaking but it is something we can flag to SOLAS. Other agencies would also be involved, such as the Road Safety Authority. It would require a lot of work but it is certainly something at which SOLAS could look because everything should be reviewed constantly.
We are over time. I am going to move on. The Minister of State might get a chance to come back in.
