Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

It is important to say that there are 69,000 people who are eligible for grant aid and support out of the 157,000 people who are attending higher education. In my response I indicated that there is a cohort of people over and above the eligibility criteria who have found it difficult in some circumstances. We should differentiate the question the Deputy asked which concerned the budgetary process, a question which I am not in a position to answer, and the future of higher education, which will include where the synergies need to be. When we refer to the Croke Park agreement, central to this will be the issue of contact time with students.

We have invested considerably in research and development and have involved people of the highest calibre in the world. Their expertise should be shared at undergraduate as well as postgraduate level. It is all about quality of education and making sure that in certain circumstances the educational opportunities are in place and are fit for purpose for a modern economy. The Hunt report was commissioned because we have not had a third level strategy. It has mushroomed. There will be a 20 year strategy for the future development of higher education in Ireland. It will take change and will have challenges but it is the best we can provide.

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