Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Before we return to Ms Doyle, I also have a couple of questions.

On the cost of third-level education, does the Department or the HEA have any figures on how our costs compare with those of other countries? Obviously, there are other countries that manage to run a free third-level education system, including Finland and other Scandinavian countries which have similar populations to Ireland's. How do their costs compare to ours?

I note that the HEA publishes a report on who goes to college every six years. There was one due out this year with the latest figures but I understand it will not be published until next year. There was a story in The Irish Times that I did not read properly and I meant to go back and check, but I think it stated that 40% of students from disadvantaged backgrounds - or perhaps it was disadvantaged schools - go on to third level. If that is true, it is a significant improvement on previous years. I wonder whether the Department or the HEA has any figures on that. That relates to the access issue.

On the issue of the use of buildings raised by Senator Power, some universities in particular do not maximise their use, traditionally closing their colleges at the weekend. There are also colleges that are open morning, afternoon, evening and at the weekend, with all sorts of flexibility. Institutes of technology are particularly flexible in their delivery of education. What pressure is the HEA and the Department putting on colleges to use their buildings more?

On an issue raised by Deputy Colreavy and others, the idea of rationalising the education system might make sense but local facilities encourage people to attend college. Will such facilities remain part of the future education system? Are there any plans for outreach centres in terms of the future of higher education?