Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Dr. Day for her presentation. Members can ask questions and indicate whether they want clarifications on anything that has been said by the first three contributors but first I will address a few questions to Mrs. Justice McGuinness. I noted from her submission that she agreed with the idea that the funding system should involve the State's students and employers. She called for an investigation into how a loan system could work for students. Can she expand on her preferred design for such a system? How does she envisage people with limited means can be encouraged to avail of these loans? Access to education is hugely important and is an aspiration for all of us. Would a loan system impact on inequality?

I liked the language that Professor Hegarty used in his submission when he suggested that the student contribution charge be replaced by what he called a "new student fee and support mechanism". He did not simply call it a loan. He also talked about the option of deferred payments using the income contingent loan and the opportunity to borrow living and maintenance costs. He made a good case for the costs incurred by students who must live away from home. He shared the concern about people needing access to higher education as a means to enhance their potential.

I thank Dr. Daly for her interesting comments on the European context. She painted the picture of increased student numbers and reduced Exchequer financing and how both have led to a failure to invest. She also said that universities need to diversify their sources of funding. I would be interested to hear more about the topic and also more about the impact of Brexit.

I now call members to ask questions and call Deputy Thomas Byrne to commence.