Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman and wish Dr. Love and all who work with him the best in their role. Touching on staffing issues within the third level sector at the moment, obviously expenditure is the key word. Everybody is seeking increased expenditure and investment in terms of attainment for students. Looking at the staffing numbers in certain universities and institutes of technology over the period 2008-2015, we saw a drop in Trinity of 14%, a drop in DCU of 13%, a drop in NUI Galway of 6% and similar figures across the institutes of technology as well. Pay costs still account for between 72.5% and 80% of the total institute of technology sector despite the core staffing levels falling by 12% during that same period. In terms of investment, one big fear is whether, if there is an investment made in the sector, it will be made in the correct fashion and will get the attainment people seek.