Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú:

The State primarily engages with the institutions in two ways. On the one hand, the engagement is by way of the performance dialogue between the Higher Education Authority and the institutions, which would facilitate discussion of these types of issue. On the other hand, Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, undertakes reviews of the effectiveness of quality assurance processes within the institutions. In addition, the institutions are implementing their own quality assurance programmes. We also have a programme in place to increase shared services and enhance procurement in order to ensure efficiencies are advanced to the greatest extent possible.

We recognise that there is a challenge within the funding of higher education. In recent years we have seen a decrease in the number of school leavers year on year. We are now at a stage, however, where this has bottomed out. The number of school leavers is increasing and will probably continue to increase for the next 15 years or so. Some 63% of all school leavers enter higher education on an undergraduate programme within five years of their leaving school. If we are seeking to maintain that 63% progression rate as a goal, we will have to look for greater efficiencies within the system and examine other policy options.

The Minister published earlier this week a further education and training strategy earlier which had been undertaken by SOLAS and endorsed by the Government. There is interaction in the issues between the policy on the numbers in further education and training and the numbers in higher education. That is something we will have to examine in the future. We are looking at the development of a national skills strategy which might involve something of a rethink regarding the balance of numbers between further education and training and higher education and training. One example of what we are doing in this regard is our recently completed review of apprenticeships. We have many good ideas about the future of apprenticeship programmes which involve a crossover between further and higher education. We are working on an implementation plan which we hope to complete by the end of June. There is a great deal of demand across further education and training and higher education. We have been working through a time of reducing funding and are looking at options for the future.