Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Miley. I am still not clear as to what his solution is or how it works. If Mr. Miley is looking at rebalancing on the basis of the earning potential of a particular course, it will do exactly what we do not want to do, which is to become a course for those in certain postcodes because they can afford the repayments. That will put certain professions out of reach for many people. I am not sure that is the way forward.

The universities say there is a funding problem. It would be very helpful to the politicians, who, as Mr. Miley has acknowledged, are struggling with the issue politically if the association stated what it thinks is the best solution. It is just the association's view. It is not binding, but such an advisory view would be most helpful. I am still not quiet sure what he is suggesting. Is Mr. Miley suggesting that some students should pay something and that it should be based on the earning potential of those who do that course? That is a bit intangible. I will move on, but I kind of see the direction of where Mr. Miley is going.

In his opening statement, Mr. Miley said that the gap in direct funding from the State of €4,000 per student has been made up in two ways. Some 50% of it has been made up by an increase in student registration fees and the other 50% has been made up by cost cutting at the universities.

A particular issue that politicians have encountered in recent years has been the hikes in the cost of on-campus student accommodation. I am assuming that money is going to the universities and is probably being used to plug that hole. That is an unwelcome development in the university sector because once again the universities are doing the one thing that Mr. Miley does not want to do, which is to make universities inaccessible to low and middle-income families. The increases in the cost of some campus accommodation has been astronomical, and far higher than market rent increases. It does seem to be a gouging of vulnerable students who have worked very hard to get a place in a particular university. They almost have them where they want them because there is no alternative private rental market.

I would like to hear the witnesses' response to that because it has been a particularly difficult political situation for us.