Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 May 2017
304. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the €600 million core funding requirement by 2020 referenced in the Cassells report includes or excludes provision for demographic increases that have already been included in fiscal parameters for 2018 and 2019. [19235/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe core funding figure for higher education of an additional €600 million annually by 2021 is recommended in the report of the Expert Group on Future Funding For Higher Education in order to deliver higher quality outcomes and to provide for increased demographics. This will allow for an improvement in student : staff ratios, better engagement with students and improved support services for teachers and students. As the Deputy is aware the Expert Group report sets out a number of potential funding options, including a predominantly state-funded system but is not prescriptive in this regard.
Following the publication of the report, I have taken immediate steps to increase funding for higher education with an increase of €36.5 million being secured in 2017, the first such increase in nine years. This investment addresses, inter alia, demographic increases in higher education. Provision is also being made in the Department’s expenditure ceiling in 2018 and 2019 for further investment and, cumulatively, in the period 2017 – 2019 this represents an additional €160 million investment by the Exchequer.
