21 Apr 2015, 14:24
The Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection will meet tomorrow, Wednesday, 22nd April, to be briefed by Mr Peter Cassells in relation to the Future Funding for Higher Education.
21st April 2015
Separately, the meeting will also hear from the Union of Students Ireland (USI) on its proposal for the reform of the student grant system for third level education. The meeting will commence at 1pm in Committee Room 3.
Tomorrow’s meeting will comprise two sessions:
1) Future funding for higher education [Mr Peter Cassells, Chairman, Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education] and;
2) Proposal for the reform of the student grant system for third level education [Union of Students in Ireland [Union of Students in Ireland (USI)]
Chairperson of the Committee, Joanna Tuffy, TD, says: “Last summer, the government appointed Peter Cassells Chairman of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education, tasked with examining the future funding policy for higher education. The group is expected to deliver its report by the end of this year and tomorrow’s meeting is an opportunity for our Committee to briefed on the key issues being considered by the group and how its work is proceeding.”
“In the second session of the meeting, we will hear from the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), who will discuss with us their proposals for rectifying some of the problems that exist with the current requirements in relation to the Student Maintenance Grant. The issues addressed in the proposal include the reduction in the Student Maintenance Grant over the years; the increased costs facing students and the difficulties students encounter in a range of particular individual circumstances, financial and otherwise.”
The meeting will start in Committee Room 3, Leinster House, tomorrow; Wednesday, 22nd April 2015 at 1pm.
Committee proceedings can be viewed live here.
The meeting will also be broadcast live on Oireachtas TV on Sky Channel 574; UPC Channel 207 and eVision Channel 504.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.
Ends
Media Enquiries:
Nuala Walsh,
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Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +353 1 618 3437 / M: +353 86 4100 898
Nuala.Walsh@Oireachtas.ie
Committee Membership:
Chair: Joanna Tuffy (Labour)
Deputies:
James Bannon (Fine Gael); Ray Butler (Fine Gael); Catherine Byrne (Fine Gael); Ciaran Cannon Fine Gael; Joan Collins (People Before Profit); Michael Conaghan (Labour); Clare Daly (Independent); Jim Daly (Fine Gael); Noel Harrington (Fine Gael); Charlie McConalogue (Fianna Fáil); Jonathan O Brien (Sinn Fein); Willie O'Dea (Fianna Fáil); Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Sinn Féin); Brendan Ryan (Labour); Joanna Tuffy (Labour)
Senators:
Jim D’Arcy (Fine Gael); Gerard P Craughwell (Independent); Marie Moloney (Labour); Mary Moran (Labour); Averil Power (Fianna Fáil); Mary-Louise O'Donnell (Independent)