I am committed to resolving the issue of the funding model for higher education as a matter of priority. This is essential in ensuring that our higher education institutions can effectively meet high standards of quality and achieve critical outcomes for our economy and society.
I will be bringing forward a proposal on a funding model to Government, which will be implemented as part of forthcoming Budgets. Implementation will entail the sector delivering strengthened performance and enhanced outcomes, based on a robust reform agenda.
This approach will be informed by the comprehensive economic evaluation of funding options which has been carried out under the auspices of the European Commission's Structural Reform Support Programme.
I brought this matter to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery shortly before Christmas. This allowed the key issues to be explored. It was agreed that both I and my Department would engage with Minister McGrath and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to inform Government's consideration, in particular undertaking technical work to update costings reflecting relevant funding decisions in Budget 2022 and other issues, which is nearing finalisation. This work has sought to robustly assess the assumptions underpinning the economic evaluation and to take account of the significant levels of State funding which have been invested in higher education and student support in recent years.
It’s my intention to bring final proposals for funding and reform of higher education arising from this work to Government very shortly. I am very clear that, from a policy perspective, addressing the sustainability of the higher education system must proceed in tandem with measures which address the costs of education as a barrier to accessing higher education. We need to focus on both if we want a system that can be accessed by everyone and that can deliver the talent and skills that our country needs. With that in mind, I will also be bringing the review of the Student Grant Scheme to Government at the same time.
The new funding and reform framework will be provided to the Oireachtas Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, following Cabinet consideration and will be published along with the DG Reform sponsored economic assessment report on sustainability of higher education and the SUSI review.
There have been many reports on Higher Education Funding over the last number of years, and my goal is not simply to publish the economic assessment but for Government to make big decisions that will allow for a multi-annual, inclusive process implementation process to commence. The implementation process will allow for important input from stakeholders and provide much needed momentum on the overdue implementation of key decisions that will guide funding and reform of the Higher Education sector in the years ahead.
