Ms Br?d Horan:

It is a complex question. I do not work directly within the system. I am chancellor of DCU and chair of the governing authority. I have, however, observed the system through my work with the Cassells group, as well as through work I did with the HEA. My observation is that the system has been incredibly adaptable, has really flexed and adjusted and has lived within very constrained means. However, I also observe that it is, therefore, under stress. That stress is showing in terms of the staff and the leadership within the sector. It is becoming increasingly difficult for them to stretch those resources. They have been really innovative in drawing on alternative sources of income. Many of the colleges have worked successfully to attract international students, which has bolstered resources, but that is a finite possibility and if we damage overall quality, our ability to compete internationally will decline.

We have stretched the resources close to breaking point. That is evident in the areas of infrastructure and equipment. We are looking to improve the existing infrastructure to cope with the challenges of Covid, for example, and to have better lecture facilities and so on, but also to cope with climate change. There is a core Government objective, as I said in my submission, to make sure that we are operating within our climate goals. That requires refreshing investment in the infrastructure. The system has adapted very well and has been very innovative in finding alternative sources of revenue, working well with enterprise, finding funding for research and borrowing. Within the university system, we have been able to borrow in order to invest in infrastructure but that creates pressures in terms of operating commercially.

The system has taken a complex set of measures. I am hopeful that students have not suffered irreparable damage. As to the quality of the graduates, the academic system is well curated and monitored in terms of the quality of the programmes. I have a level of confidence about that, but pressures exist among the staff and within the infrastructure and - Dr. Doris referred to this - the pressures on families to meet the costs. Within the Cassells group, we also recommended an extra €100 million towards student support. We believed it was important that it was targeted. We are seeing increasing numbers of students who have to commute because of the cost of accommodation. There are complex issues regarding that, about which we in DCU have worked closely with the Department to make sure it understands the complexities of increasing student accommodation. Students are increasingly working to support themselves in college. That again is putting pressure on the students. It is system under stress.