Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the guests for attending. I welcome the submissions they have made to the committee. The central function of the committee during these hearings is to try to come forward with a recommendation on the future funding model for third level. I agree with Mr. Conlon. We have done very well as a country in terms of the funding we have and how we use it to get such a high quality of third level. I also suspect we are running out of road and we need to get a strategy and long-term policy in place for the future funding model. That is especially so since we are trying to encourage so many people to get into third level.

I will start by asking Mr. Brownlee questions. It appears to me there are three potential sources of funding for third level. There is the State, student and employer, whether an immediate or future employer. All of those three entities are beneficiaries of the third level education system. In terms of the apprenticeship area, is there an opportunity for the State to look for a greater contribution from the employer part of that triumvirate for the purpose of funding third level? Will that put too much pressure on the employer?