Mr. Lewis Purser:

I thank the Senator for his question. We have already seen a significant increase in demand from students from other European countries outside Ireland and the UK. In 2017, the first real year after the UK's vote to leave the European Union, there was a 17% increase in applications from students from other European countries. In 2018 that increased by a further 5% and this year, there has been a further 9%. There has been a very significant increase in numbers. That is great for Ireland and our universities and young people, as it brings a huge additional diversity on campus and adds both to the life of the campus and to interaction in academic programmes. It increases the world view and the opportunities for Irish students in their future lives and careers. However, as is well documented elsewhere, this increased interest from European students is adding significantly to the domestic increases we already experience because of our very healthy demographic trends, coupled with the fact that year on year, our substantial numbers of students going to the UK are decreasing rapidly. That all means that more and more good students want to study in Irish higher education. We are now at a situation where the Government funding per student is just over 50% of what it was in 2008. The universities have made up that shortfall through other income and mechanisms and the students themselves are paying significantly more in student fees in 2019 than was being paid in 2009. That is where the additional money is coming from. The capacity issues are there in terms of capital spending for buildings, for laboratories, student supports and all the things that students need on the ground, such as residences and student accommodation. The list is long. If we are to successfully educate and train our own students and bring in a healthy mix of other European and international students, I am afraid that what we currently have is just not good enough.