Mr. Fergal Costello:

I am not sure what figures the Deputy has. The Hunt report suggested going from €1.3 billion two or three years ago to €1.8 billion by 2020 and €2.25 by 2030. That was in respect of recurrent and there may have been capital in addition. The figures Mr. Boland has just quoted are considerably less than that, going to €1.4 billion and then €1.6 billion in 2030. One of the big differences is the changed demographic projections that have already been explained. It follows from that that as the projections change the expected costings change.

The other point to make is that this is a costing. Public and private pay for higher education so there is not an assumption that the Exchequer has to meet all this. As Deputy Colreavy said consultancy and other sources of income have to play a part in the mix.