Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Third Level Education

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2020

Wednesday, 20 May 2020

Ceisteanna (219)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Ceist:

219. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the proposal by an association (details supplied) for the establishment of a transformation fund to support an enhanced skills development programme to provide sustained investment in digital infrastructure and to provide capacity for the known demographic growth in student numbers over the next decade; and his views on the assessment that €180 million of an annual investment will be required in addition to the capital investment proposed for third level in Project Ireland 2040. [6009/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As part of the collaborative response to this pandemic with key tertiary education stakeholders, the Department has established working groups composed of experts to assess and respond to the impacts of Covid 19 across the Sector.  These working groups members are reviewing immediate operations, medium term contingency planning and the review of specific and acute needs within Tertiary Education.  This process continues to facilitate the provision of key information from stakeholders, that will inform immediate and medium term actions to respond to the rapidly changing circumstances.

The projected financial impact of Covid19 on Higher Education and the Tertiary Education system as a whole is being assessed by the Department of Education and Skills as part of its ongoing analysis of the impact of Covid19 on the education sector overall.  The provision of additional financial support to support Tertiary Education to ensure that it can contribute fully to economic recovery and to meeting priority skill needs will be examined in the context of overall expenditure management and budgetary policy. The Department will continue to engage with key stakeholders to safeguard the recovery of the tertiary education sector.

In relation to capital expenditure, I recognise the challenges posed for the sector by demographic growth, and by ambitious energy efficiency and decarbonisation targets. The need for robust digital infrastructure has also been underlined by the experience of the pandemic.  Project Ireland 2040 already provides for an ambitious investment programme for the higher education sector and within the past year we have seen a number of transformative university building projects approved for co-funding by the State.  I am confident that these projects will play a key role in supporting the national recovery and skills agenda.  I also consider that the experience of the pandemic provides an opportunity to reflect on the future direction of, and priorities for, higher education capital investment and will be keen to have a dialogue on this with sectoral representatives in the coming months.

I am also aware of the immediate impact on universities of the temporary suspension of building projects and the complexities involved in remobilisation.  My Department is continuing to liaise closely on this with the HEA and with the institutions affected. 

My Department will continue to work with all key stakeholders as we move into a further phase of planning in the context of mitigating the impact of Covid 19 and planning for a return to learning under changed and changing circumstances.

Barr
Roinn