Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I share the Deputy's concern about maximising the use of facilities over a 12 month period. There is wide disparity in the activities engaged in on some college campuses compared with others.

Members will be interested to hear that yesterday I met for the first time ever the presidents and chairpersons of the 14 institutions, including the DIT chairperson and president, Mr. Brian Norton, to discuss the landscape document issued recently to all third level institutions which asked that they examine ways by which they could come together to ensure greater efficiencies and a pooling of resources and that they form strategic alliances in order that there would be greater productivity and effectiveness in existing infrastructure. I intend to meet the seven universities to engage in a similar exercise.

Enrolments are to the credit of the institutions, as they have continued to increase at a time when their allocations from the Exchequer have been reduced. Members will be aware that the level of funding was reduced by 2% this year and will be further reduced over a three year period by a maximum of 6%. I share the analysis in the Hunt report that we need to look at the financing of third level education. I am awaiting a response in this regard, but there is capacity to achieve greater efficiencies within the existing system and greater room for co-operation between colleges.

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