Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome those in attendance. As I have to be in the Chamber at 2.30 p.m., I apologise in advance for having to leave. My colleague, Deputy Sandra McLellan, will pass on the answers to my questions.

Mr. Costello spoke about selection and admission. I have read the reform document which goes into some detail on issues such as the expansion of bonus points. Would the delegates like to comment on the system implemented this year? I come from the north side of Cork city and the number from my community who go to UCC, an excellent university, can be measured in single digits. Many of those who have one of the best universities in the State on their doorstep face huge barriers to entry, not all of which can be addressed by the university. We have heard about other issues such as accessibility for the children of non-EU migrants. Will the delegates give the committee details of the programmes or supports that may be available to try to encourage people from disadvantaged areas to access universities and institutes of technology?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue spoke about the €25 million cut in funding announced recently in the budget. I am surprised to learn that all of the universities and institutes of technology have significant reserves. Can we be given an idea of the impact this level of once-off budget cut will have? It was mentioned that the pupil-teacher ratio had increased from 20:1 in 2008 to 24:1 last year. That must have an impact on the quality of education. Will the delegates point to some of the tangible ways by which the effects this has had can be identified? I presume a tipping point is reached in all classrooms at primary, post-primary and third level. Have we reached that point in the pupil-teacher ratio?

I would welcome the witnesses' view on whether we are approaching those ratios or have passed that stage.

On pay, people are often vexed when they hear of the large salaries being paid in university circles. It was stated earlier that the evidence indicates that current pay scales here, when compared with European standards, are not competitive in terms of securing the best talent. Perhaps the witnesses would point us to where we can get that evidence so that we can examine it. As I understand it, pay in this area in the UK is 30% lower.

In terms of the amalgamation of the institutes of technology, it was stated that there are three options facing the institutes. It was also stated that institutes seeking to amalgamate will face significant challenges. Perhaps the witnesses would briefly outline some of those challenges and indicate what supports will be needed for institutes opting to go down the path of amalgamation or seeking technological university status. I presume the supports needed will be not only financial. I would welcome information on what other types of supports need to be put in place to allow the institutes to achieve that status. Also, if some institutes opt to remain as they are, could this result in the creation of a tiered system? In other words, could we end up with amalgamated institutes, institutes with TU status and stand-alone institutes? What systems or protections can be put in place to ensure this does not happen?

I am also interested in hearing a response to the issues raised by the Migrant Rights Centre, which are valid issues, in particular those around accessibility, which I accept might best be posed to the Department of Justice and Equality. We will raise those issues with that Department. We will also raise with the Minister for Education and Skills the reversal of that option when people gain their citizenship, if already in education. I hope the other issues raised will be addressed in the immigration Bill when published. That Bill has been published and withdrawn three times so far. However, the current Minister has given a commitment to publishing it during this Dáil session. We are more than happy to raise the issues raised today by the witnesses with the Department of Justice and Equality.