Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Boland and his team from the HEA, and Ms Doyle and her team from the Department. They are present to discuss the very pressing challenges in the third level sector and those to be faced in the coming years.

The Hunt report forms the basis of the plan for third level education. The report outlined that we would require €500 million per year for ten years to meet the challenges faced in expanding the education system and student numbers. There are significant funding pressures in third level sector. The Hunt report expected student numbers would increase from 160,000 to 250,000 by 2030. Does this projection still stand? The Hunt report is now at least two years old and it took 18 months to compile, which means it dates from late 2008. Are we still working from the report's projections and assumptions on student numbers and the funding required to ensure our education system is fit for purpose?

Following the Hunt report's publication, a report was commissioned by the HEA and compiled by a panel of international experts. Did the HEA decide to commission it and was the Minister involved? What is the current standing of that report? When it was published, the Minister pooh-poohed it and said it was not in line with policy. Does the report form part of the HEA's current work on planning?

The Minister's comments of last week, which constituted a repetition of comments he made on a number of other occasions, suggest he wants the third level institutions to put their heads together to determine what kinds of efficiencies can be achieved and the additional value that can be obtained using the current spending pot. What value might we be able to obtain from current expenditure? Has the Department or HEA an estimate of what can be gained from improved efficiencies and better structuring? While the delegates cannot give specifics, they should surely have an expectation as to what can be obtained, such that we will know where we stand. Knowing this will help inform our understanding of the challenges that arise in obtaining additional required funding.

How much additional funding will be required? I referred to the €500 million mentioned in the Hunt report. How can the funding issue be addressed? An increase in the student registration fee was announced. Students will have to come up with the cash in the next two to three years. The pressure this causes has been well documented. It causes access issues for particular categories of students.

Although technological universities are being considered, I am particularly concerned about the status of the remaining institutes of technology. We should not allow the creation of a third category of education provision in the higher education sector. Institutes of technology are crucial to the economic development of an area and to attracting industry. The quality of education in the institutes of technology needs to be maintained. What is the status of colleges outside the technological university sector? We must ensure another educational tier is not created.

There is a recruitment ban across the public service. Where will gaps emerge over the next five years, and certainly the next three years, on foot of staff retirements? What difficulties may be created in institutions in regard to maintaining the quality of education in various faculties? What is the plan to address this? Our standing in this regard influences our international ranking. Equally, it informs the quality of courses being provided. We need to ensure the public service recruitment ban is not leading directly to a dilution of the product we are offering to students.