Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2019
26. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of detailed economic analysis to be conducted by the European Commission into the funding of third-level education here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10881/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra53. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position with regard to a proposed income contingency loan scheme at third level and the referral of the proposal to the structural reform support programme of the European Commission for further analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10718/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 53 together.
In order to build a political consensus regarding a future approach to funding the higher education sector, the then Minister for Education and Skills referred the expert group report on future funding of higher education to the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills for their consideration. The Committee requested that my Department undertake an economic examination of the three policy options proposed by the expert group to assist the Committee in forming its view of the most appropriate option.
In Q4 2018, my Department applied to the European Commission Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP) which provides tailor-made support to all EU countries for their institutional, administrative and growth-enhancing reforms to carry out the analysis of the three policy options identified by the Expert Group. Formal decision-making by the European Commission on projects that have been successful in obtaining support is expected very shortly.
Having this evaluation undertaken through the Commission’s Structural Reform Support Programme will provide the type of international expertise and analysis that would be very beneficial to a major evaluation of this nature.
If the proposal is approved by the European Commission the detailed programme of work for a comprehensive economic evaluation of the funding options identified by the Expert Group would be expected to be completed in the course of 2019.
