Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The reality of the economic situation and the public expenditure corrections which must be made in the coming years present challenges across all areas of public expenditure. It must be acknowledged that the sector has accommodated significant increases in student numbers at a time when both funding and staff numbers have reduced.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Higher Education Authority, HEA, is undertaking a study on the sustainability of the current funding system for higher education. This study was initiated at my request and an initial report was published last year. This report makes it clear that immediate work is required to prepare for a longer term approach to a system that can be maintained through a sustainable funding base which will be able to address the continual expansion of the sector while protecting quality of education. The HEA is continuing its work in this area and I will be advised further as this work progresses.

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