Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

In line with the national strategy for higher education, the Higher Education Authority was asked to examine the inter-relationships between funding levels, the scale of growth and the maintenance of quality in the system in order that realistic and sustainable levels of growth in numbers could be supported and that better informed choices could be made on policy options for future funding. The HEA presented an initial report to me last November. The report outlines the scale of recent reductions in funding and growth in student numbers and provides some evidence of the possible impacts on quality of provision. However, the HEA has emphasised that the report is preliminary only and that substantial additional work needs to be undertaken before comprehensive proposals on how we can sustainably fund higher education into the future can be developed. The authority is continuing its work in this area and further advice is expected later this year.

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