Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The context of the question is that I welcome what is happening. It is great that there is a renewed focus. However, I do not believe there has been as much focus on teaching as there has been on areas for which the Minister of State has responsibility, namely, research, in respect of which substantive legislation has been forthcoming. I welcome the moves that have been made to date but I am deeply concerned about teaching in our universities. In the period from 2008 to 2015, the overall reduction in Government funding per student will be 50%. Universities are, therefore, being obliged to pull back in respect of many teaching supports. Teaching within our universities is under threat. While I welcome what is taking place, I remain extremely concerned. I want to ensure that what is happening takes place in as rigorous a manner as possible. In that context, will there be hard data available to educational experts, the HEA and Members of the Oireachtas which will enable them to identify the fact that Trinity's English department is phenomenal while a particular department at the University of Limerick is struggling? The danger of not having such data is that we will end up with some very well-meaning sentiments and projects and avoid answering some of the difficult questions or shining a light on the more problematic areas.

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