Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 November 2023
256. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost per year on the expansion of science courses within technological universities; how much funding was allocated in total for this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50309/23]
View answerIn considering the matters raised it is important to note that Technological Universities, as autonomous institutions, are responsible for their own academic affairs including the curriculum and student numbers on individual courses. The costs incurred by a Technological University in increasing student places on a particular course, or range of courses, can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the individual circumstances of the relevant provider. Meeting the costs of provision is a matter for the respective institution within the context of its overall budget.
In terms of recurrent sectoral funding supports my Department allocates recurrent grant funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA), for direct disbursement to HEA funded institutions, towards the operating costs of public HEIs, including Technological Universities. The overall 2023 REV recurrent allocation for higher education is circa €1.4 billion, this includes both Exchequer and National Training Fund monies.
The annual core recurrent grant is allocated, by the HEA, to each institution using an allocation model known as the Recurrent Grant Allocation Model (RGAM). 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 internal allocation of funds between teaching, research and supporting activities is a matter for each institution. There is full institutional autonomy to deploy this block grant in the most effective manner across teaching, research and supporting activities. In this regard, it is not possible to attribute recurrent funding as provided for the purpose of expansion in science courses within technological universities specifically.
