Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Buttimer for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I will reply on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe.

As the Senator will be aware, the Cork School of Music is a constituent part of Cork Institute of Technology, CIT. As institutes of technology are autonomous institutions, the Department of Education and Science has no role in their operational affairs. The institutes of technology receive a block grant from the Higher Education Authority and it is a matter for each institution to determine how this is allocated internally. In the case of the Cork School of Music, the CIT will determine the level of funding to be allocated to the school.

The Minister is aware of the annual demands for additional resources for the higher education sector and he has afforded priority to investments in this area. Spending on higher education has increased dramatically over the past decade. When all higher education funding is taken into account, the overall provision by the Department for the sector amounts to €2 billion for 2008. This is an increase of 25% since 2005, when the provision amounted to €1.6 billion, and an increase of 135% on the €850 million provided in 1997.

I understand that recurrent funding for CIT has been increased in recent years from €57 million in 2005 to almost €64 million this year. Its 2008 allocation represents an increase of 2.5% over its 2007 funding and an increase of 12% since 2005. CIT has also benefited from substantial capital funding of €80 million allocated since 1997. In addition, the Cork School of Music was one of three pilot public private partnership projects undertaken by the Department and was completed in 2007 at a cost amounting to €51 million, excluding VAT.

It is understood from CIT that in the context of the normal cycle of review and planning for next year, all faculties and constituent colleges have been requested to achieve efficiencies. It is also understood that while there will be some small reduction in new part-time student intake, the Cork School of Music will continue to offer the full range of music tuition currently available, including for first and second level students.