Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I fully agree with the Deputy that we need to increase participation from groups that are not well-represented, including areas of particular disadvantage. The targets that are set envisage an increase of about one third in the participation of disadvantaged groups. They have been set out in different areas across students with disabilities, mature students, various socio-economic groups and so on. They are at the heart of the strategy I mentioned. That is something that, as part of the programme for Government, we will be implementing. The report on funding to which to the Deputy referred is the report by Mr. Peter Cassells. That report, with all the options, outlines a number of different routes that could be taken. The three routes it has proposed, as I understand, will be brought before the Oireachtas committee so that the Dáil, as a collective, can form a view as to how we should proceed.

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