Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the committee for the invitation to be here with my officials to discuss our plans for the sustainable future funding of the higher education sector, student accommodation and a number of other agenda items which have the Chair outlined. I previously said to this committee that neither I nor the Government would be found wanting when it comes to trying to addressing the question of sustainable funding. In working with this committee to make progress, we really believe sustainably funding higher education has a profound impact for our economy, society and the citizens we all serve. Therefore, I am pleased to be with here today to discuss our progress in implementing Funding the Future, our policy response to underfunding in the sector. Indeed, earlier today we had an implementation group meeting where we had a chance to meet with all of the stakeholders. This is an implementation group which I co-chair with Professor Anne Looney and Professor Tom Collins.

However, it would be remiss of me not to note the work of this committee in its report on sustainable funding. I thank the committee for sending it to me. As I outlined in my written response, a great many of its recommendations very happily dovetail with our priorities in Funding the Future,particularly the focus on staffing ratios and on quality and how those two important strands inter-relate in higher education.

The committee will recall that Funding the Futurewent beyond being a direct response to the European Commission's Directorate-General reform review because it also tried to settle the question of the funding model and the funding gap. It provided a clear and detailed economic assessment as to the funding options presented in the Cassells report. As was requested by this committee in 2019, the Government ruled out the possibility introducing student loans in the system. The Government committed to a multi-funded model of additional Exchequer investment and employer contributions through the National Training Fund.

In this year's budgetary process - this was an important development, and I hope a welcome one - we also committed to publishing an annual paper in advance of the budget on the cost of living and the cost of education in Ireland. That enables Government, the Opposition, stakeholders and this committee to scrutinise the various options available to reduce the cost of education for students and their families. The first of these assessments was published by my Department in August and it informed our decision-making in the Estimates process. I am sure we will have a chance to get into the detail of Funding the Future as we work through the questions. I will take my comments on as read, other than to say we are providing significant additional funding this year that will see a significant increase in staffing in the sector, which is important; a reduction in the staff-student ratio; and an opportunity to build capacity in the technological universities in regard to that. There will also be funding that will enable joint programmes to be co-designed across further educational training and higher education. This is a really key aim.

In terms of student accommodation, I want to be very clear on it. I have been pretty upfront about this and I do not think the current student accommodation strategy is fit for purpose. Much has changed in the world since it has been in place and we need to develop another one. The last thing we need to do is to start writing that now. The first thing we need to do is to look at the universities that have planning permission and to get building. That is what my Department is working on. It is finalising a proposal, which I intend to take to Government in the next few weeks, that will try to see Exchequer funding for the first time put into helping make student accommodation projects on publicly- or university-owned land with planning permission viable. As we get into 2023, we will look at replacing the existing student accommodation strategy and we look at the technological universities and others and their capacity to develop accommodation.

I want to touch on the issue of PhD students. We had a discussion on it during oral parliamentary questions in the Dáil last night. I committed on that occasion to carrying out a national review of PhD student supports, PhD stipends and how we look after our PhD students in this country. We have a lot of work to do. I have been very clear that this needs to be an external review and I would like to share the terms of reference with the committee. The scope of the review will include current PhD candidates' supports. This includes: financial supports, such as stipends, SUSI and others; the adequacy, consistency and equity of current arrangements across research funders and higher education institutions, including equity and welfare considerations; the status of PhD candidates and this debate around the student versus the employee, including a review of international comparisons and models; the impact on the funding of research programmes of any adjustments to current rates of support; graduate outcomes for PhD graduates, including return on investment and benefits to the learner; future-proofing supports; and visa requirements and duration for non-EU students, mindful that this is a matter for the Department of Justice and will require collaboration with that Department. In the coming days, I will announce the external chairs of that group.

These are requirements and duration for non-EU students, mindful that this is a matter for the Department of Justice and will require collaboration with that Department. I will announce the external chairs of that group in the coming days but I wanted to share that with the committee. It is my aim for it to conclude its work in early 2023.

On the issue of North-South cross-Border enrolment, I would like to thank the committee for its thoughtful contribution to the question of North-South enrolment in tertiary education in this report, and specifically its series of recommendations. The Chair will be aware that I have provided under a separate cover a detailed written response to that report and it is a very timely contribution to the question of North-South student mobility. I am convinced not just of the need to facilitate mobility, but also to ensure that firm foundations of collaboration between further and higher education institutions are protected and enhanced. There are common challenges facing education systems, North and South, and it is in the interests of all of us on the island of Ireland to ensure that every young person and every person on the island has access to the best possible educational opportunity. This is vital not only to our shared economic prosperity but to underpinning peace on the island. I also expect in the coming days to be able to make a significant announcement on the development of all-island research centres which I know is something this committee supports and has an interest in.

The final issue the committee asked me to touch on briefly and I am sure we will then engage on it, is with regard to the withdrawal of accreditation for the applied social care course at the Dublin Business School, DBS. I fully respect CORU's role as an independent regulator. That is right and proper. I also fully support the regulation of the profession. It is a good step forward in terms of standards. There must be appropriate mechanisms to ensure fitness to practise and the protection of the most vulnerable in society, so regulation is being introduced and the system is currently undergoing the transition to accreditation.

The social care workers register is due to open on 30 November 2023. This would begin a two-year transition period for existing practitioners to apply to register with CORU. On 30 November 2025, the title "social care worker" is due to become a legally protected title in Ireland. My officials are engaging with all relevant parties and will continue to do so. I have been very clear regarding the need for refunds from DBS to students and a recognition of the difficulties they have encountered. I also believe we need to look at how we ensure students can continue their studies and how they can transfer where possible to the Technological University, TU, Dublin. I want to thank TU Dublin for a very active engagement with Quality and Qualifications Ireland and DBS and for all their efforts to work out a solution for DBS students. I am happy to share more information in the questions. Go raibh maith agat.