Professor Vincent Cunnane:

I will address the soft question at the end. Perhaps Dr. Mulcahy may look at the quality issue but I will take the second question. Others may come in after me. On the issue of student loans, we came out against it strongly for several reasons. First and foremost, the student body that we talk about includes first-generation students, access students and disadvantaged students. The idea of borrowing is not endemic in that group. I do not like to speak in generalities but it is a particular issue. We see this as a way in which fewer students would come in to higher education. When the matter was before this committee previously in respect of the Cassells report, I asked one question. I asked that we not do anything that would limit access. We hold by that statement. I appeal to members not to do anything that would limit access as they reflected upon the Cassells report. That includes the student loan aspect in particular. Our deeply held view, backed up by research from Trinity, is that the loan system would inhibit access. It is often quoted that in the first years of the student loan system in the UK and other places, access to higher education increased. That must be counterbalanced by the fact that in the years after that, the numbers dropped off significantly with debt accumulated to those students. Professor Cusack will be able to come in on aspects of this that pertain in the UK. We do a great deal of work in the social areas, including social sciences, early childcare, nursing and the caring professions. The graduates cannot clear their debts. It has been shown in the UK that many of the graduates in these areas are never in a position to clear their debts, never mind attract other funding such as mortgages etc. This is because they are poorly paid relative to others. Actuaries and those working in aspects of engineering and science will get good jobs that are highly paid but our sector has a large percentage of people in the caring professions. Again, it has been shown that it is difficult for them to repay loans and to have a life thereafter. We remain committed to the fact that student loans should not be part of the Cassells side of things.

This is a State investment on which the State receives many multiples of a return. When the committee comes to discuss the Cassells report, the issue of access should be to the forefront of the thinking of members. Aspects of our sector, including many first-generation students and many people in caring professions should be part of that consideration. Dr. Mulcahy might come in on the quality side of things and Professor Cusack might say something about her experience in the UK loan system.