Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the House the up-to-date position of the Department of Education and Science on this issue. As the Deputy is aware, the Centre for Deaf Studies represents a constituent part of Trinity College, Dublin, TCD. The Universities Act 1997 confers autonomous statutory responsibilities on universities for the day-to-day management of their affairs and it is a matter for each university to manage its financial resources. Through the Higher Education Authority, the designated body responsible for the planning and development of higher education and research in Ireland, universities receive a recurrent block grant.

The HEA, on request from Trinity College, Dublin, provided specific funding for the Deaf Studies Centre as part of the overall recurrent grant to the college in recent years. I understand that TCD recently made a request to the HEA for specific funding for the Centre for Deaf Studies for 2009. This request was recently agreed by the HEA and I understand that the authority notified TCD in this regard. The Minister for Education and Science does not have a role in this process.

With regard to general recurrent funding allocated by the HEA, it is a matter for each institution to determine how it is applied and, therefore, Trinity College, Dublin, as an autonomous body, may determine the use of funding and may allocate additional funding to the centre over and above that provided by the HEA if it so wishes.

The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, indicated that significant investment has been made through the years in the higher education system. Overall provision for the third level sector has increased from some €1.5 billion in 2004 to some €2 billion in 2008. The overall allocation for the sector in 2009 will be in the region of €2.1 billion, which takes account of the general public sector reduction in the payroll, applicable to all higher level institutions. It will be a matter for the institutions to manage their resources in 2009 and, where necessary, to effect economies across all levels of activity, including increased collaboration between universities, and between the university and institutes of technology, IOT, sectors. In recent years, recurrent funding allocated specifically to the university sector has increased from €631 million in 2004 to €831 million in 2008. This represents an increase of some 32% since 2004 and an increase of almost 120% from 1998 levels. This excludes separately provided programmes of funding for capital, for research and development and from the strategic innovation fund.

The multi-annual strategic innovation fund, SIF, for higher education was introduced by the Government in 2006 with an allocation of €510 million for the period of the national development plan. The fund is intended to be a major catalyst in bringing about substantial change and quality improvements in higher education institutions and promoting system-wide collaboration that draws on all institutions' collective strengths. Projects approved under the fund are aimed at institutional reform, enhancing teaching and learning, improving access and life-long learning and enabling the development of fourth level activity.

I understand Trinity College, Dublin, was successful under the strategic innovation fund specifically for the Centre for Deaf Studies. TCD, as the lead institution, was awarded €1.28 million in multi-annual funding under second SIF, for diploma courses which the university has developed to improve education and career opportunities for deaf students. This collaborative proposal with the Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown, will make these diploma courses available nationwide through distance learning. It will implement a bachelor of arts degree option and it will research, develop, implement and evaluate appropriate assisting technologies for the teaching of Irish sign language and deaf studies using the internet. I again thank the Deputy for affording me the opportunity to respond to the House on this matter.

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