Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I wish him well and congratulate him on his appointment. This is his first Question Time, although we have met at a committee.

League tables and rankings are not an exact science, but the consistent message coming out is that our colleges have been sliding down a number of the rankings. Last week, Trinity College, Dublin, fell out of the THE's top 100 and UCD fell out of its top 200. This has implications for the standing of our education in international eyes and for attracting investment. It also has implications for the quality of education provided to students. This is no surprise given the consistent reduction in funding for the third level sector in the past number of years. The Government has continually put off making a decision on how to ensure adequate funding so as to prevent a further slide in the rankings. The CEO of the Higher Education Authority, Mr. Tom Boland, suggested that the Government's planned €250 increase in the student registration fee should this year be left with the institutions to which it is paid.

Can the Minister of State revert to me with a reply as to whether the Government will agree to do that?

See this speech in context