Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 7: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills following the recent publication by the Higher Education Authority of details around a new national strategy for higher education, if he also intends addressing the sustainability of the funding framework for increased participation in higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10200/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In line with the national strategy for higher education, the Higher Education Authority was asked to examine the inter-relationships between funding levels, the scale of growth and the maintenance of quality in the system in order that realistic and sustainable levels of growth in numbers could be supported and that better informed choices could be made on policy options for future funding. The HEA presented an initial report to me last November. The report outlines the scale of recent reductions in funding and growth in student numbers and provides some evidence of the possible impacts on quality of provision. However, the HEA has emphasised that the report is preliminary only and that substantial additional work needs to be undertaken before comprehensive proposals on how we can sustainably fund higher education into the future can be developed. The authority is continuing its work in this area and further advice is expected later this year.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the report and the Minister's statement that it is only a preliminary report. The issue of sustainability is of huge importance. The Minister has rightly mentioned the growth in numbers, which is a welcome development. Even in these difficult and challenging economic times, undergraduate enrolments in the academic year 2010-11 increased by 4% on the figure for the previous year, which is also welcome. Enrolments in the years from 2007 to the 2010-2011 academic year increased by 40%. We all welcome the increased level of participation at third level and want to see it continue to increase. We all want to see easy access for individuals. However, we cannot have facilities spread all over the country in order to meet geographic demands. We must also meet the demand for quality. Is consideration being given to making better use of existing facilities? There has been a dramatic improvement in recent years in existing accommodation and the provision of new colleges of further education and third level facilities. The Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, recently opened the new Trinity College Medical School. All of this investment has been worthwhile and contributed to increased participation at third level. Can we ensure better usage and occupancy of facilities?

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I share the Deputy's concern about maximising the use of facilities over a 12 month period. There is wide disparity in the activities engaged in on some college campuses compared with others.

Members will be interested to hear that yesterday I met for the first time ever the presidents and chairpersons of the 14 institutions, including the DIT chairperson and president, Mr. Brian Norton, to discuss the landscape document issued recently to all third level institutions which asked that they examine ways by which they could come together to ensure greater efficiencies and a pooling of resources and that they form strategic alliances in order that there would be greater productivity and effectiveness in existing infrastructure. I intend to meet the seven universities to engage in a similar exercise.

Enrolments are to the credit of the institutions, as they have continued to increase at a time when their allocations from the Exchequer have been reduced. Members will be aware that the level of funding was reduced by 2% this year and will be further reduced over a three year period by a maximum of 6%. I share the analysis in the Hunt report that we need to look at the financing of third level education. I am awaiting a response in this regard, but there is capacity to achieve greater efficiencies within the existing system and greater room for co-operation between colleges.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I, too, believe there is room for better utilisation of existing facilities. These facilities have been put in place at great cost to the Exchequer in a worthwhile investment that will provide a good return to the taxpayer. I emphasise we must maintain the quality of access to third level students in all parts of the country while at the same time appreciating one cannot have centres of excellence in specialist areas in each province either. I refer to the important work entrusted to the Hunt group and its subsequent report, which was produced at the end of 2010. This important work must receive further impetus to ensure the continuation of the valuable increase in participation in recent years. All Members are aware of the importance of ensuring people have access to third level education both to develop an individual's potential for his or her betterment, as well as that of society, and from the perspective of employment creation and the economic stimulus that is needed.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I agree with the Deputy and he may be interested that one question which arose at yesterday's meeting concerned collaboration across the Border. I believe in an all-Ireland strategy in respect of the maximised utilisation of third level education facilities. In the case of Letterkenny Institute of Technology in particular, which is somewhat isolated, there is an obvious argument for collaboration with Derry and likewise between the University of Ulster and Dundalk Institute of Technology. However, such collaboration should not be confined specifically to the Border areas and one must consider how to achieve collaboration in education on an all-Ireland basis. I note there already is some collaboration in respect of joint research.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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It is welcome that the Minister has met the different groups, as a strategic approach must be taken in this regard. However, supports are needed. For example, there has been an increase of 30% in the number of students entering the Institute of Technology Tallaght, which is located beside many empty properties under the control of NAMA, and there should be joined-up government in respect of using those resources. The Minister must be the driver of change in this regard and must pull in his colleagues. Such opportunities are sitting there and it is possible to come up with imaginative ways to deal with the difficulty pertaining to finance.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I already have had informal discussions with the Higher Education Authority on identifying properties that could be utilised for educational purposes and which are under the control of NAMA. If the Deputy has specific queries or specific suggestions to make regarding useful properties that could be added to the Institute of Technology Tallaght, I would be more than happy to discuss them with him, first to identify whether they are under the NAMA umbrella and then to identify what stage they are at.