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

Is this purely down to funding or should there be a broader discussion? We have one of the highest participation rates in higher education in Europe. It increased from 20% in the 1980s to 58% now. Is the system best suited to the needs of everyone who participates? Is there a correlation between that and participation in further education courses dropping from 36,000 to 32,000 in the same period? If we are spending as much as €50 million per annum on supports for the people in question when we need €600 million in the coming years, is that the correct use of the expenditure? Dr. Love is saying that these people could be retained were more cash invested in supports, but is it purely a matter of funding or are people entering the HEA's system even though it might not be suited to their needs?