Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he intends to publish the report by the Higher Education Authority into funding for third level; if he will commit to publishing it prior to Budget 2012; and if he will provide details on the proposal in the report. [35173/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I have just received the report referred to by the Deputy, which relates to the sustainability of the existing funding framework for higher education. The report, which was undertaken by the Higher Education Authority, was submitted to me on Monday of this week. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between funding levels, the scale of growth and the maintenance of quality in the system so that realistic and sustainable levels of growth in numbers can be supported and better informed choices on policy options for future funding can be made. I will consider its findings and discuss them with my Government colleagues as part of our budgetary deliberations. I understand the board of the Higher Education Authority will consider the report at its next meeting on 29 November next. After the report has been considered, it is my intention that the Higher Education Authority should arrange to publish it without delay.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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When did the Minister receive the report? Why does it have to go back to the board of the Higher Education Authority, given that the authority drew up the report in the first place? I would have assumed that the board cleared the report before it went to the Minister. I ask the Minister to impress on the authority the need to publish the report. Perhaps it is within his own capability to do so. People are anxious to have certainty in relation to this issue, which needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. When the Hunt report was published a year ago, the Minister, as his party's education spokesperson of the time, called for any follow-on studies to be published immediately. I ask him to ensure this report is published as quickly as possible. The parents of students who aspire to go on to further education at third level want to know what the financial position is, what choices they might face and what onus will be on them with regard to costs at third level.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I am not entirely sure why a report that is the product of another body has come to me first. It has not come as a draft report. The report has been completed. I will make inquiries to find out why that has happened. I will take on board the Deputy's point that the report should get into the public domain as soon as possible.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister gave a commitment and a strong pledge to the Union of Students in Ireland and the student body. He said that if he was in government, he would reverse the €500 increase in the student service charge and the €200 charge for post-leaving certificate courses, both of which were introduced by the previous Government. A year ago, the Tánaiste gave a commitment to the effect that the Labour Party was opposed to the introduction of third level fees by the front or back doors. Can the Minister categorically assure us that he will honour the commitment and the pledge he gave to the Irish electorate on 21 February 2011, in the full knowledge of the fiscal position of the Government of the time? I refer specifically to the written pledge he gave to the Union of Students in Ireland.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy knows, these matters are still under consideration. Budgetary decisions have yet to be finalised. I will bear in mind what the Deputy has said.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister is aware that there has been a huge increase in participation in further and higher education, thankfully. The number of students in third level education increased from 100,000 in 1997 to 160,000 in 2010. Such a 60% increase was a remarkable and necessary achievement. Like everyone else in this House, I want to see a further increase in participation levels. I ask the Minister to deny that the Government is considering putting a cap on student numbers in 2012.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I do not know how many times it has to be conveyed to the Fianna Fáil Party that this country has lost its economic sovereignty. It was signed away 12 months ago by a Government of which Deputy Smith was a member. We control neither the chequebook nor the policy in relation to a range of items of public expenditure. We have to work within that constraint. We will do whatever we can to regain that economic sovereignty as quickly as possible. The Deputy should not ask questions when he already knows the answers to them.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister made the pledge to which I refer on 21 February last, when the fiscal position of this country was well known. This country's expenditure and income targets had been laid down in the budget that was delivered in this House in early December 2010. All Government reports suggest those targets will be met this year. The fiscal position has not changed. It has improved somewhat, thankfully, since the Minister and his party leader - the Tánaiste, Deputy Gilmore - made a solemn commitment to students and subsequently won the support of a substantial percentage of this country's student population. I suggest that many parents of students voted for them on that basis as well.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I understand what the Deputy is saying. I also understand why he is saying it.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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So election promises should not be taken seriously.