Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are already investing in our universities. Project Ireland 2040, the plan published by the Government earlier in the year, includes the plan for increasing capital investment in our universities and institutes of technology for the next decade. Has the Deputy seen what is happening at the DIT campus at Grangegorman? That is public capital investment. Has he seen the decision recently by Trinity College in regard to providing an additional 1,000 spaces for students to study engineering and science? That is the result of investment that has been made both philanthropically and by the Higher Education Authority through the Department of Education and Skills and the Government. Has he seen the investment and loans from the European Investment Bank to all of the universities across our country in order to lead to further expansion and development?

That is investment. The Deputy cannot make the case that we are not increasing investment in higher and further education. For example, in the last budget we increased the employer's rate of PRSI by 0.1% to set up a national training fund that, in turn, is invested into higher and further education. This is the kind of investment he is calling for.

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