Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government includes commitments on funding for the higher education sector, but we have not seen any comprehensive funding plan yet. The Coalition for Publicly Funded Higher Education has today published its own survey which shows that 90% of people want increased investment in higher education. Last week, we saw the continued fall in the international rankings of Irish universities. The Cassells report has been published but we have no funding plan for the sector yet outlined by Government. The Coalition for Publicly Funded Higher Education has today called for €199 million in next year's budget. The Minister, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, told the student leader of DCU that student loans were off the table. Are student loans off the table? When will the Government outline a clear long-term plan for funding higher education in the State and commit the required funding over time?

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