Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
2071. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the specific criteria used to determine the amount of funding that each university and technological university would receive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39105/23]
View answer2073. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether the new funding model will be sufficient to ensure that the TUs like Atlantic Technological University are able to deliver on their mission and wider strategic objectives, taking into account the unique challenges faced by ATU, such as its large size and multi-campus structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39107/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2071 and 2073 together.
Higher education institutions (HEIs) are autonomous bodies as set out in legislation and receive funding from a variety of sources, in this regard meeting expenditure costs is generally a matter for the respective institution within the context of its overall budget.
In terms of State recurrent grant funding provided towards the operating costs of public HEIs my Department allocates recurrent grant funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA funded institutions.
A Recurrent Grant Allocation Model (RGAM) is in operation in the university and technology sectors and the annual core grant is allocated by the HEA to the HEIs as a block grant towards teaching, research and supporting activities. The allocation of the core grant is determined on a formula basis, based on a per-capita amount in respect of weighted eligible EU student numbers (and non-EU research) in four broad subject price groups. There are additional weightings for postgraduate and research students. Elements of the core grant are informed by access metrics and research metrics.
The Grant in Lieu of Fees is provided based on certified fee claims submitted by the HEIs in respect of eligible students registered in the given academic year. Funding in respect of Nursing students (grant and fees) is allocated based on certified claim forms.
Funding ring-fenced for specific purposes is allocated depending on criteria specific to individual funding streams.
Institutions are advised in their annual grant letter that the internal allocation of funds between teaching, research and supporting activities is a matter for each institution. Thus, there is full institutional autonomy to deploy this block grant in the most effective manner across teaching, research and supporting activities.
Further detail on the RGAM is available on the HEA website here: hea.ie/funding-governance-performance/funding/how-we-fund/
