Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 23 November 2023

Public Accounts Committee

Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 45 - Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Financial Statements 2022: National Training Fund
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 19: National Training Fund

9:30 am

Photo of Marc Ó CathasaighMarc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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I join with my colleagues in wishing the C and AG a happy birthday on the 100th anniversary of the establishment of his office. I also congratulate Dr. O'Reardon on his recent appointment.

My first question is for the C and AG. I want an overview of the funding for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the higher education sector. Vote 45 provides a funding pathway whereby funding travels to the HEA and down into higher education institutions. The HEIs and particularly the universities have assess to other - outside - sources of funding. In terms of our understanding of the spend within the sector, is the C and AG content that we have an adequate overview of the type of funding streams that come from entities outside of the designated higher education institutions, which operate substantially for the benefit of or under the auspices of the institutions both inside and outside the State? That is essentially the profit money that flows into our universities. Is the C and AG happy that this is adequately captured in terms of overview?