Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department allocates the recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of funding is then a matter for the individual institution.

A Financial Review of the Institutes of Technology sector was published in October 2016. The Report noted that these campuses provide a very important function for the delivery of education within their regions and present wider socio-economic benefits within rural communities. 

However, my Department and the HEA recognise the particular challenges attached to multi-campus provision in higher education institutions. The HEA has begun a major review of the funding allocation model for higher education, and this review will include looking at how the future model can take account of the additional costs associated with such arrangements.