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

How do universities fund online learning programmes? Is the cost of doing so absorbed into the general costs of the college or is it an additional cost? My understanding is that a fee applies to certification of Massive Open Online Courses, MOOC. Does this generate much income?

On Professor Brown's point about changing the funding model, I am concerned that changing the funding model in the way described would result in the loss of money to undergraduates. A large proportion of those who engage in online education courses are already educated to undergraduate level. As such, they will have received their subsidy from the State. It would not be very fair to take money from such individuals if it meant undergraduates would also lose out. I am concerned about the implications of the change proposed.

Is there any collaboration with the organisations represented today and the institutes of technology in this area? I have a further question about the funding model. Professor Savage has said postgraduates form a large part of those who engage in online education programmes. What will online education do for people who, say, have not even completed second level education?