Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 8: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when the Colin Hunt report on the future of the third level sector will to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47665/10]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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We could take this question as read also as we have heard the answer.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputies are aware of the terms of reference and that the report considers the next 20 years of education into the 21st century. We must deal with many issues and challenges, including growth in participation, expansion of research and development, increasing importance of knowledge as the basis for enterprise development and economic growth, and how we want to support civic and social cohesion, personal growth and cultural development. The strategy will provide a clearly defined framework as to how that can be achieved, how we can agree national priorities and how performance expectations can be articulated and delivered on by autonomous higher education institutions as part of a high performing system.

I accept the report is much anticipated. I would hope to have it at the beginning of the year.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Is this not the most circulated report among academics and third level institutions that has ever failed to be published by the Minister? The only people who do not have a copy of the report-----

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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We know more about it than the secret of Fatima.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The secret is that the Minister has not published it so we cannot read it. Are turf wars taking place between different institutions? As I understand it, a couple of months ago the Tánaiste was about to bring it to Cabinet but it did not happen that week, and I am not sure what has happened since. I have had people telephoning me to tell me they have a copy of it on their laptop and asking whether I want to see it. I tell them I do not, and that I want the official report published.

What is the issue? Why does everybody else have the report except the Members of the Oireachtas, in particular the Opposition? Why is there a delay in this regard? Are people within third level institutions of all types objecting to this? There is no reason for delay and no reason it should not be published immediately.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is unfortunate that a leaked copy of an old draft was spread around the media. Those who were on the group were forthright and the lady who represented the institutes of technology was almost vilified when she would not tell them anything that was going on, as the students did not. That said, it is clearly my intention to publish the report early in the new year. No one in the institutions is preventing me from doing so.

The implementation of the strategy for the next 20 years is very important and will be hugely beneficial to third level education in this country. It will be the first time we will have a real opportunity since the Universities Act to consider this from a legislative, governance and teaching point of view and seek changes. I agree that the teaching contact hours need to be increased for our young people and also that students would have an input and, as we discussed earlier, would be asked for their views. We hear about them when they are at home-----

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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It is a comment on the delivery of service for which they will now be paying handsomely.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Absolutely. That is exactly what I want to see. They are as entitled as children in primary school, who will now be part of the whole school evaluation and will have a view, as anyone else would.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The Minister said no one is preventing her from publishing the report - everyone knows that. The question is whether they are objecting to its publication, which is different.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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No.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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No institution is objecting to it. That is good. In that case, there is no reason the Minister should not publish it tomorrow.