Mr. Neil McDonnell:

It is frustrating. None of us here are politicians so we are not exposed to the pressure members are to say and do popular things and get re-elected. We understand that but one of the interesting things the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has done is put up the website,whereyourmoneygoes.gov.ie. Look at health alone. We will go into another committee talking about health tomorrow and our health expenditure has gone from €14 billion to nearly €21 billion, pandemic aside, without a return on outcomes for citizens.

I agree with everything said on this side. If a Minister is to propose the removal of a funding stream, it needs to be said upfront how it will be replaced. Please avoid doing the populist thing. We have done it before and we did not got any result out of it. If there is no return made by the user of a very valuable education service, the problems the committee has heard about from the teaching and learning side will get worse because universities will prioritise the low-hanging fruits of foreign students, student accommodation and so on instead of learning.