Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 October 2004
181 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science the preparations which are being made, financial or otherwise, to cope with the high increase expected in the number of third level students over the next decade; if capital funding will be provided to facilitate this expansion in student numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26135/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe OECD review of higher education in Ireland has presented an agenda for reform and development of the sector to enable it to play the crucial role that has been identified for it in supporting Ireland's broader social and economic aspirations. The ability of the sector to meet the anticipated demand for higher education over the coming years is central to this. I am looking forward to now actively engaging with the Higher Education Authority, leadership in the university and institute of technology sectors, as well as the various other agencies and interests both within and outside the sector in taking forward the agenda that the OECD has presented. The report on the review and prioritisation of capital projects in the higher education sector, the Kelly report, was published recently and as part of their work the review group prepared student population projections for the period up to 2015-16. The most relevant projections however are those out to 2007-08. The scale of growth in school leaver participation in higher education has been dramatic in recent decades — the rate of participation in higher education by the 18 year old cohort stood at 11% in 1965, 36% in 1992 and had risen to 53% by 2003. The review group expects this participation figure to rise to 58.5% by 2007-08, which would increase the full-time student numbers from 125,230 in 2003 to 140,305 in 2007-08, an increase of circa 15,000 students.
The report sets out projects for priority investment in order to sustain a high quality higher education and research sector and remain internationally competitive. The report identifies an overall estimated Exchequer requirement of almost €1.9 billion over a ten year period. This comprises a proposed phased funding framework requiring €933 million expenditure on essential health and safety, national and strategic priority projects, with €599 million of this required in the initial five-year period. The report also proposes an additional €900 million capital provision over ten years, €90 million per annum, to cover minor capital works and equipment renewal in third level institutions.
The report and its proposals in relation to the phasing of funding will have to be considered in the context of the ongoing Estimates process.
