Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 October 2023
382. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he and his Department have identified any specific obstacles which may impede improvement and achievement in the further and higher educational sectors and impact our ability to continue to establish Ireland's reputation as equal to the best globally in higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45991/23]
View answer384. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which he and his Department propose to broaden the higher education opportunities for undergraduates with a view to maximisation of their opportunities in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45993/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 384 together.
Supporting all third level students on their education journey and addressing and overcoming obstacles which may make this journey more challenging is a core strategic function of, and one of the key reasons for the establishment of, my Department.
It should be said that there has been much progress made by my Department in enabling and supporting Higher Education Institutes to deliver in key performance areas, as well as tackling some of these challenges faced by students, since its establishment. This progress is underlined by the recently released Times Higher Education University Rankings 2024, which show that Irish HEIs do particularly well in metrics related to research productivity, industry links and international outlook.
I acknowledge, however, that the rankings also highlight areas where we can and must improve. One such area is the high staff to student ratio, which has been noted by my Department and HEIs as an area that requires improvement.
The monies secured in Budget 2024 will see some €195m in additional funding for the higher education sector in 2023 and 2024. This includes €95m in once off funding in 2023 for pay, pensions and non-pay costs and €99m in core funding, pay, pensions, medicine place, other strategic healthcare expansion and part-time fee supports.
Additional core funding of €60m for the higher education system in 2024 will be allocated to strengthen capacity and increased staffing levels, enhance support services for students, and supported greater alignment of provision with priority skills needs.
Other areas such as affordability for students and achieving greater access to education are also key priority areas for my Department. Cost of living in particular has been identified as a key barrier to students, educators and other staff in the sector.
As a result, at the Budget 2024 announcement last week Minister Collins and I announced a range of measures to support students, including a package of once off cost-of-living measures in the 23/24 academic year. These will include a €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for the free fees initiative, and for September 2024 the abolishing of all student contribution fees for all incomes under €55,924.
Other key measures include the further investment of €8.1 million, and increase to €17 million overall, in the Student Assistance Fund for the 2023/24 academic year, the increase in maintenance rates of 10% from 2024, as well as the introduction of a renter’s tax credit for parents of adult students, and the full restoration of student maintenance grants for post graduates from September 2024 for the first time since the financial crash.
Encouraging those who are unable to study full time because of work, long distance travel or other challenges or commitments in their lives is also a key priority for my Department. As a result I announced that students on specified undergraduate part-time and part-time online courses will also be eligible for the fee support from September 2024 for the first time.
These and other targeted funding measures announced by Government will help to deliver on these key priority areas. My Department and I will continue to work towards securing a Higher and Further education system that is accessible and affordable for all, as well as providing for learners and educators a system that delivers according to the highest international standards.
