Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 38:

In page 17, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “(p) promote increased levels of north south cross border student enrolment in higher education,”.

We just need a very clear role for the HEA in promoting cross-Border enrolment. Cross-Border student enrolment is broadly seen as mutually beneficial in economic, social and cultural terms. Despite broad support in both the political system and wider society the number of cross-Border enrolments has remained at a very low level. A targeted strategy is required to channel political support and bring about positive change.

In 2019-2020, 2,085 students from the Republic attended higher education institutions in the North. This equates to just 3.5% of the overall student body in the North. This has declined from 4,280 or 7.6% over the past ten years. In terms of cross-Border student enrolment, the most recent available figures are for the 2020-2021 academic year and show that 1,624 students from the North attended higher education institutions in the South. This means that students from the North make up less than 1% of third level enrolments in the South. I feel that it is really important to have this explicitly here and I ask for the Minister to support my amendment.