Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2021
3. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the independent economic report on the Cassells report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37069/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhen will the independent economic report on the Cassells report be published? It is widely accepted the higher education sector has been chronically underfunded since Fine Gael came to power in 2011. In the words of the Irish Universities Association, the State embarked on a sustained period of disinvestment in higher education. The European University Association's Public Funding Observatory report on 32 higher education systems refers to Ireland as an extreme case "where universities were confronted with strong student growth while experiencing grave funding cuts".
I thank the Deputy. I would not agree that the underfunding started when my party came into government. Unfortunately, the underfunding of higher education is an intergenerational issue that needs to be rectified. I accept, however, the point on the need for a sustainable model of funding for higher education. My Department's statement of strategy, which I published on 8 March, contains a commitment to put in place that sustainable funding model for higher education. This is essential in ensuring our higher education institutions can effectively meet high standards of quality and performance and achieve critical outcomes for society and the economy.
The report referred to in the Deputy's question was commissioned by the European Commission's structural reform support programme in November 2019. The independent consultants appointed by the Commission, Indecon and LE Europe, were required under the terms of reference to undertake a detailed review of three specific funding options contained in what we commonly know as the Cassells report. The consultants were also tasked by the Commission with examining the steps necessary to adapt higher education and further education and training provision in Ireland to ensure alignment between graduate output and qualifications and the current and expected future skills needs of the Irish labour market to provide the country with the right set of skills to ensure inclusive, smart and sustainable growth. The terms of reference agreed by the Commission also required the consultants to identify options for putting in place a new funding system for the higher education system in Ireland that would provide equity in access, efficiency in the investment of public resources, and sustainability in the face of strong demographic growth.
The final deliverable arising from the project has been submitted by the European Commission recently. Following its completion, my Department has now commenced its examination of the analysis, findings, conclusions and recommendations to develop proposals for the Government to seek to meet the commitment contained in the statement of strategy. Once the examination is concluded, the report will be submitted by me to the Government for consideration. It will then be published.
That is the long answer. The short answer is I expect to be in a position to publish the report in the autumn. I want to receive the advice from my officials on the analysis, prepare proposals for Government and then publish the report. Then I expect a robust and comprehensive debate in these Houses.
I am glad it has come back to the Minister. Maybe he will confirm when it came back to his Department.
A major part of the State divestment was based on passing the costs on to students and families, as is evident from the fact we now have the highest fees in the European Union. We need a sustainable funding model, as the Minister said. The Cassells report made this clear in 2016, yet we are still waiting for the report five years later. It is urgent. The Minister told me in September last year the report would be completed by the end of 2020. When I asked about it again this year, he told me it would be in March. Today he is telling me it will be in the autumn. He will forgive me if I am a little sceptical. It has to be produced. The Minister knows that unless the new legislation we are now scrutinising is underpinned with serious investment, we will not do the job that needs to be done. After years of reports, including evaluation reports, it is beginning to look like there are delay tactics. The work really needs to be done now.
The Deputy knows that every time she says we have the highest fees in the European Union, I am going to point out this is only because Northern Ireland left the European Union, sadly, as part of Brexit. The fees for students in the North, where the Deputy's party is in government, are a hell of a lot higher.
The timeline is a matter for the European Commission. In fairness to it, I believe it would say Covid has had an impact. The report is now with my Department. There are several parts to it. What I will not do is build a shelf to stick it on and let it gather a load of dust. What I am preparing over the summer months is a plan to bring to the Cabinet. This is a report whose recommendations must be implemented.
As I have said before in this House, I do not believe in student loans. I believe they are a barrier to access.
Many say they work on paper but I am yet to see where they work in practice. I do not accept the analysis that nothing has happened since the Cassells report. Since then, expenditure allocated to higher education has increased by more than €500 million, which is an increase of approximately 40%. In 2021, total planned current expenditure funding of the higher education sector, exclusive of research provision, is in the order of €1.98 billion.
The Minister knows that the higher education institutions are carrying a debt of almost €1 billion as it is, and he knows what needs to be done in human capital and everything else that is needed. Related to that, how many labs have been put in since last year? The infrastructure was proving a problem in meeting the demands of higher numbers. The London Economics review of the Augar review, which is an appraisal of the English further and higher education systems, argued for a less market-orientated approach to third level education in England. The Minister referred to the North but he knows there is a block grant situation there. As the Tánaiste said, the solution to that is an all-island education system and we have to work towards that. I was pleased when the education committee recently appointed me as rapporteur on a report examining the barriers to all-island education. I agree with the Minister that there should not be fees in the North or the South.
Thank you, Deputy. Táimid thar am.
I genuinely welcome the work that the Deputy is going to undertake. I was pleased that I could announce with the Taoiseach €40 million from the shared island unit for all-island research. It will make a real difference, not only in investing in research but also in building the links and personal relationships between individual researchers and the institutions North and South. I look forward to that work.
I accept there is underfunding in higher education and that we need a sustainable funding model but I want to be clear that there will not just be new money for old rope. I know Deputy Conway-Walsh will agree on that. Deputy Verona Murphy spoke of her ability to obtain a law degree at night, presumably part-time, in Wexford. If we are to fund higher education sustainably and properly, it has to work for the citizens, not just for institutions, structures or university presidents. Alongside the list of funding requirements needed, the State will also have a list of asks as to how our higher education system could be more integrated with further education, less elitist and more agile and flexible. I know the Deputy will agree with that.
