Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome all the witnesses. We are talking about future funding at third level. The allocation of over 6,000 student places over the past two years, in incredible circumstances, including Covid lockdown, was a phenomenal achievement on the part of third level colleges and the Department. I note there is an additional €430 million in capital funding and that 45% of that will go towards the technological university sector, particularly for growing apprenticeships. Mr. Miley spoke to us about building, but even getting the apprenticeships and craftspeople in place is an issue. This is why we need to see the centres of excellence across the country.

I have a few comments before I ask questions. It was said that 60% of those between 25 and 35 have a third level qualification. We need to ensure students currently in primary and secondary school will achieve that level, if not higher. We need to ensure students at primary and secondary school will have access to third level. I acknowledge that numbers are increasing no end at third level.

It was positive to hear that non-Exchequer funding is returning to pre-Covid levels, particularly in respect of international students. That is due to our reputation. I would welcome the witnesses' comments on that. On the non-Exchequer funding package, I have a few questions on Horizon Europe. Some €95 billion has been allocated for that programme at European level. Over the past two years, how have researchers managed in applying for the funds?

From speaking to the Minister, Deputy Harris, and his office, I note that funding at third level is crucial for him. He will be bringing packages on this for review very shortly. It is crucial to have the correct lecturer–student ratio in so many areas. I studied history and French in NUIG and do not even want to say how many students were crammed in to listen to fantastic history lecturers. There are certain subjects, particularly in laboratory-based education, in respect of which the student–lecturer ratio has to be very small. We must have the infrastructural facilities to meet the demand for STEM subjects.

My first question is for Mr. Miley of the IUA. He referred to research and development. He compared our funding for research at third level with that available elsewhere. The funding level is a bugbear of mine. We must increase our funding drastically. Mr. Miley referred to GBARD and pointed out that we need to reach the EU average of 1.43%. I would be very supportive of an increase in funding for research and development. Could Mr. Miley comment on this? When we have to fight for funding, we show its benefits by demonstrating Ireland's innovation, the talent that third level research produces and what is delivered for communities and society and businesses in general. We demonstrate how investment results in jobs in our regions. We need to show that. Are the walls around third level colleges coming down to show the impact of research on society? If Mr. Miley wants to make a couple of comments on that, he may do so.

Senator Flynn spoke a little about my next point. NUIG has an inspirational leader in Mr. Owen Ward, who is now the first full-time Traveller education officer at the university.

My next question is for Dr. Ryan. The Minister, Deputy Harris, was in GMIT regarding the development of our new Atlantic Technological University, which will open on 1 April. I was delighted, of course, to see much more gender balance. Ms Maura McNally, chair of the Bar Council, will be the chair of the governing body of the Atlantic Technological University. Dr. Ryan spoke about how the technological universities reflect their geographic areas and where we come from and referred to how university campus towns will attract investment. Could he comment on what he has seen over the past year or two regarding how this is happening? As I asked Mr. Miley, how can we fight for investment in research, which we clearly need? I am referring to how we show the impact of third level education and research in communities in rural and regional areas. It could be a matter of delivering through the rural networks and Irish Rural Link and of funding under Horizon Europe. It could also be a question of how we develop transport links and broadband in rural areas and drive investment in this regard.

I very much appreciate Professor Hegarty's comment on apprenticeships and on the head of Volkswagen having been an apprentice. I was listening to the professor's comments earlier. While I very much agree that we need to consider the rules, including the financial rules, concerning the National Training Fund, it must be opened up. Our apprenticeship programme and the investment we are seeing in apprenticeships is to drive that. We need to make sure the fund is being used. It funds minimum training allowances for craft apprentices over 25. I ask Professor Miley to start.