Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 7: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will publish the findings of his report on third level funding in order to allow for an informed debate on the issue of third level fees. [19219/09]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he proposes to introduce third level fees or to increase the registration and other charges for those attending third level. [19128/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of the proposed reintroduction of third level fees. [19220/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the proposed third level fees will affect those students who are due to start their third level education in September 2009. [19221/09]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in announcing his plans for the reintroduction of third level fees. [19222/09]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he will make an announcement on the reintroduction of third level fees; his favoured view on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19248/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 14, 19, 28, 32 and 34 together.

As the Deputies will be aware, I am currently finalising a review of policy options relating to the introduction of a form of student contribution. There are many complex and competing considerations involved. These include considerations relating to institutional funding, family affordability, equity, participation and value for money for the taxpayer. However, it is an issue that merits consideration at this important juncture in the development of higher education and also given the current economic circumstances.

My officials are finalising a technical report on the various options available. This will look at available models, drawing on the experience of those that have operated internationally. It will assess the potential policy and cost and revenue impacts of various available approaches in an Irish context. I will be providing the completed technical report to my Cabinet colleagues for consideration in the near future. As the Deputies will appreciate, I do not wish to pre-empt any decisions of Government on these matters.

In the event that it is decided to introduce a form of student contribution, it is my intention to recommend to Government that any new arrangements will apply to students entering higher education from 2010. Such arrangements would also apply, in 2010, to those students who would have entered higher education this year, 2009.

On the issue of the student services charge, the Government has already announced that it is willing to accept increases of up to €1,500 - from €900 - for the 2009-10 academic year in individual higher education institutions. This increase of up to €600 is agreed on the understanding that the revenue generated by the level of increase to be adopted by each institution is required to defray the cost of items that fall to be funded by the student services charge.

All students who are eligible for means tested student support have the student charge paid on their behalf by the local authorities or the vocational education committees, in addition to any maintenance grant and tuition fee grant to which they are entitled.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Am I to take it from the Minister's response that we must wait until the Minister's officials have finished with the report before we see the findings of the commissioned report? Is the Minister aware that Ireland has consistently underspent in terms of third level education? The OECD puts us well below the average investment in students. Does the Minister understand that the abolition of fees had a hugely beneficial impact in terms of working class families who, otherwise, would not have benefited from the grant system in the past?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I will take the supplementary questions together so the Minister gets a chance to reply to them.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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We had a debate on this issue at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Science last week. Will the Minister clarify for me whether he is telling us that those who entered the higher education system this year, 2009, will not be subjected to any new funding arrangement the Government may decide on at some stage after their entry to college?

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I presume that after the by-election disaster for Fianna Fáil, the Minister will be immune from any effect of publishing the report on fees because it will not be able to make his position any worse. Therefore, will he please get on with it and publish the report?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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On the matter of delaying the publication of the report until after the local elections, I have indicated clearly that it would be more appropriate and political for me to make the announcement beforehand, because that would allay all of the fears of those on middle incomes and let them know this would not affect them in any way.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Reverse psychology.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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It is to the advantage of the Opposition that I am not making the report available.

With regard to Deputy Ó Snodaigh's question on bringing the report to the House, I have been charged by the Cabinet to make a report to it. My first report, therefore, will be to the Cabinet. It will then be a matter for Cabinet to adopt the proposals or otherwise. I will make the report available to the Cabinet, seek its comments and observations and then make a recommendation to Government. I will do that on the basis there are four former Minsters for Education and Science in Cabinet and obviously they would like to make their observations. I will take that into account.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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They are equally divided on the issue.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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On the question of those who enter third level in 2009, I said the opposite. I said there would be no change for anybody going into third level in 2009. The reason for that was they had applied to the CAO, understood exactly what they had to pay and what their commitments would be. However, I clearly indicated that if the Government takes a decision to introduce either loans or fees for the 2010 school year, that those in the second year of university could be liable to such charges.