Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider the recent Higher Education Authority discussion document which recommends cutting the number of third level institutions from 39 to 24; when he intends to begin rolling out reform at third level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2692/13]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the findings of a document published by the Higher Education Authority which recommends the number of third-level colleges in the State should be cut from 39 to 24. [2679/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 160 together.

The discussion document in question has been circulated to the higher education institutions by the Higher Education Authority, HEA, to form a basis for further engagement with institutions on an outline configuration for the future higher education system and is not intended to be definitive. I do not propose to comment on specific details of the paper in that respect as it is a further stage in the landscape process being undertaken by the HEA. Following the institutional submissions on their future strategic fit within the system and the commission by the HEA of a range of expert analyses and this further engagement, the authority will return formal advice in March 2013 on the optimal configuration for the future system for my careful consideration.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Aire for his response. I have a concern regarding the present position of the third level sector and as to what is the medium to long-term plan. While consultations are ongoing, there has been a failure to grasp the nettle of the problems with regard to funding the third level sector. In particular, this has been the case in respect of promises the Minister made while in opposition on the registration fee whereby students' fees have been increased rather than decreased, as had been promised. Institutions in the third level sector face difficulties in ascertaining what will be their status in the medium term and what precisely this reform will mean for them. While they have been asked to revert with suggestions, there is a concern that what will transpire will be a reduction of and restriction in the breadth of courses available, rather than an opportunity for institutions to grow arising from these reforms. Although some duplication undoubtedly exists, which can be addressed, this issue appears to be the primary focus thus far with regard to the reform process. However, that part of the process pertaining to how the third level sector might be developed further has not been getting the requisite attention and justifiable concerns exist within the sector as to what will be the development potential in the future, as opposed to further cuts to the services being provided at present. This sort of confusion is not helpful to the development of the sector and it is important for the Minister to provide the sector with greater clarity as to how he envisages progress on the developmental side of the third level institutions as part of this reform.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Briefly, there are four stages to the process of reconfiguration in the institutes of technology, IOT, sector. I can talk separately about the university and wider third-level college sectors because initial teacher education has been dealt with separately. Both Deputies will be familiar with the proposal whereby 19 institutions have been brought down to six configurations. In respect of the IOT sector, following the publication of the Hunt report just two years ago in January 2011, the document was circulated. On foot of the recommendations of the aforementioned report, the HEA wrote to all 14 of those institutions, asking where they saw themselves in the future and what plans did they have for themselves. They submitted a set of proposals last summer, which were then evaluated by the HEA. As I indicated at a gathering of all the presidents and chairpersons of the aforementioned institutions, the HEA stated there was considerable double-counting, as well as a lot of aspirational expressions of hope that did not fit reality. Moreover, estimates of additional research funding and of foreign students were unrealistic because the same two, three or four institutions were estimating the same number of foreign students, thereby double or triple-counting. In the past week, in the second stage of the process, an initial response by the HEA has gone out in which the authority has set out configurations or clustering it considers to be realistic. This document has been sent out for consideration, discussion and response by the institutions themselves, which is the second stage. The third stage then will be when they revert to discuss it or when they have communicated with the HEA.

The HEA at the end of March will produce a report and ask institutions what they want to do in future in a wide open sense. That is the first stage. We have responded to the unrealistic nature of some of what they are aspiring too. We have also asked them for a much more detailed specific recommendation, indicating that all things being considered, this is what is being recommended to the Minister on the path that should be travelled. That is what I will receive at the beginning of April or end of March. I will then indicate the recommended future configuration of the institute of technology landscape in the country. At that stage I have no doubt that we will have a debate in the House on the issue.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy O'Brien has a similar question.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister has covered the issue comprehensively and I know Deputy Wallace wishes to have his question addressed.