Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú:

Yes or via the HEA and some research expenditure from the research council, from Science Foundation Ireland and EU funding. Many of the institutions, particularly the universities, are expanding as a result of funding from private sources, to the extent they can do so. The biggest changes over the past five to six years have been the increase in the student charge which is now at €2,500 and it is planned to increase it by €250 in each of the next two years, at which time it will be €3,000. A total of 47% of all undergraduate students receive either full or partial support towards that charge from the student grant system, leaving 53% of all undergraduates who pay the student charge fully themselves. Of all students eligible for free fees, over 50% have some support under student grants.

We have also been reducing the State expenditure on higher education and reducing the numbers of staff employed in higher education. We reduced the grant by 2% three years ago, by 2% two years ago and by 1% this year, with plans for 1% next year. Similarly the numbers of staff are being reduced so there is a decrease in expenditure. There has been a gradual decrease in State expenditure and an increase in the student charge along with increases in the various private funding available to higher education institutions.

The Department has a major higher education strategy under way, one element of which is an overall performance framework for higher education. Each of the institutions made submissions to the Higher Education Authority which met and discussed plans over a number of years with each of the institutions. A report on the outcome of the policy decisions arising is in the process of being submitted to the Minister and hopefully will be published in the near future.

The Department has other work under way. We are looking at the issues related to the future financing of higher education. We are working in co-operation with the Higher Education Authority on a process with a number of elements, such as ensuring efficient use of resources in higher education.