Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 May 2022
599. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline plans he has to move higher education to a unified funding system for universities and technological institutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23012/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the 4th of May I launched Funding the Future – a landmark policy on the future of higher education.
Funding the Future, which was approved for publication by Government, settles the question on sectoral funding Higher Education. The policy sets out the vision and direction of higher education funding, our commitment to addressing legacy issues in higher education and detailing our ambitious plans for investment and reform.
As outlined in the framework, my Department will engage with the HEA to develop and implement the necessary changes and updates to the funding distribution model to ensure it aligns with and facilitates key reforms necessary. The objective of this process is to ensure a transparent funding model which reflects sectoral developments, encourages high quality teaching & learning provision, excellent research and the achievement of key strategic objectives.
This will be supplemented through the development of cost reporting with the sector, which will inform the consideration of future strategic policy objectives and outputs. This will build on the progress realised from the RFAM report and will be further informed by the recent report between the HEA and the OECD on resourcing higher education.
The Funding the Future policy is available on the gov.ie website at the following location: www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/49e56-future-funding-in-higher-education/.
