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

I refer to the future funding projections for the third level sector and the savings that may be achievable through value for money initiatives. We have not been given specific figures. Mr. Boland said it was difficult to assess this in the way people can in other sectors but, at the same time, the Hunt report, which was commissioned three or four years ago, identified funding needs. For a number of years, there has been much deliberation about what would required for the future of third level funding. If we had asked this question four years ago, we would have been told that the sector was difficult and that the Government had set up the Hunt group to do this work. However, the Hunt report has been in the system for two years. It outlined specific figures, yet we still are not even considering ballpark figures for how much will be required through Exchequer and other funding or what savings will be made through the value for money exercise in which third level institutions have been asked to engage. No matter what part of the public sector we discuss with the budget coming up and the Estimates process in train, a key part of undertaking a job is to identify the target. It might not be achievable but, at the same time, in undertaking it, I would expect a ballpark figure for what is required or what is feasible. I ask again for figures on what might be achievable in extracting additional value from third level institutions doing the work better. Does Mr. Boland have ballpark figures for the additional funding that may be required in future years in the third level sector? Ms Doyle mentioned increased productivity in the sector as a result of reduced funding of €200 million and more students coming into the sector. That is happening across all sectors. If every Department could work its own version of the miracle of the loaves and fishes there would be increased productivity, but perhaps there are fewer loaves and fishes and more people eating. This would mean more students leaving the system with a poor-quality education. Productivity does not necessarily mean improved outcomes.

Am I correct that the Minister would not allow the international report to be published? He mentioned at the time that he felt aspects of the report were not feasible or desirable, while Mr. Boland said that two thirds of the report forms the basis of the way the authority expects to go forward. Many in the IT sector feel they did not have an opportunity to engage with the international report, while many aspects of the report ran contrary to previously agreed national policy. Will he comment on that?