Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 September 2022
270. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of adding an additional 250 nursing and midwifery undergraduate places. [45290/22]
View answerMy Department allocates funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to designated Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The HEA provides block grant funding to the Higher Education Sector, from within the allocation available, through the Recurrent Grant Allocation Model (RGAM) which is driven by overall student numbers. The grant is allocated as a block grant as a contribution towards teaching, research and supporting activities. The internal allocation is a matter for each institution.
It is also important to note that HEIs are autonomous bodies as set out in legislation, as such the management of the academic affairs, including the curriculum and instruction and education provided are generally matters for the relevant institution, In this regard it is open to individual institutions to increase the number of nursing and midwifery undergraduate places without an increased cost to the Exchequer necessarily arising.
As the deputy will appreciate the costs incurred by a Higher Education Institution in increasing student places on a particular course can vary depending on a variety of factors including the type of course and the individual circumstances of the relevant Higher Education Institution. The addition of 250 places in a specific course would require a specific engagement with the sector to provide such courses and it is therefore not possible to definitively calculate the costs sought.
To provide the Deputy with an indication of the potential costs associated with increased places the HEA have provided the attached spreadsheet detailing estimated costs based on existing levels of funding provided by the HEA towards such places.
Please note the following:
- The attached represents the estimated additional cost to the HEA (excluding the €3,000 student contribution – some students may be eligible to have this paid under SUSI) using an average cost of €8,000 per student per year.
- The attached excludes any rostered placements salaries– the costs of this fall on the Dept Health /HSE.
- There may be other costs that fall to the Dept Health/HSE.
- The attached shows just the cost for one cohort of an additional 250 nursing students.
