Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 October 2017
138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which higher education costs have increased over the past number of years; the extent to which the proportion of the national budget under that heading has varied in the past ten years; his plans to ensure continued access to third level for all students seeking to avail of third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45257/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraRecurrent funding to institutions amounted to €1.3 billion in 2007. The level of investment by the State in higher education declined as a result of the economic recession and the number of competing priorities for reduced levels of public funding. It should be noted that the reduction in funding levels was offset somewhat by public sector pay cuts and the rise in the student contribution.
It was in recognition of the funding challenge in higher education that the Government appointed an Expert Group to examine future funding requirements for higher education and to present options for developing a sustainable long term funding strategy for the sector.
The Expert Group’s report, which was published in July 2016, clearly outlines the funding challenges and offers a number of approaches and recommendations for consideration. I referred the expert group report to the Oireachtas Joint Committee for Education and Skills as committed to in the Programme For Government and I look forward to receiving the Committee’s recommendations which will assist in facilitating informed decision-making for the future direction of funding for higher education.
However, I am cognisant of the immediate challenges facing the higher education sector and so while the Committee has been undertaking this important work, I have been working to secure additional funding for the sector. It was in that context that I secured additional funding for the sector in Budget 2017 of €36.5 million.
This was the first time since 2009 that there was an increased investment by the Government in higher education. This meant that investment by the State in higher education in 2017 amounted to nearly €980 million. In addition, my Department will invest almost €450 million in 2017 for access measures to assist students from under-represented groups to participate in and complete higher education.
The principal ‘access’ support is the student grant scheme, which makes available means-tested financial assistance to students in further and higher education. Under the terms of the scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students on full-time courses who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. It is anticipated that the scheme will benefit circa 80,000 students in 2017/18. Other key supports include the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities.
Building on the progress made in Budget 2017, I have secured an additional €60 million for higher education in Budget 2018. This additional funding will allow for targeted initiatives in higher education including skills programmes, performance and innovation funding, technological university development and apprenticeship costs in the sector. It will also allow for places to be provided for 2,100 additional students in 2018. In total, we will be investing €100m more in higher and further education in 2018 than in 2016.
