Alex White (Labour)

There is an emerging crisis in the funding of higher education. Given its seriuosness, I ask the Deputy Leader to arrange a debate on the matter urgently. I ask him to explain, if he can - I do not see how he can - how it is possible to reconcile very deep cuts in the funding of the third level sector which have now been signalled to take place this autumn and the constant refrain about creating a knowledge economy or the smart economy of which Ministers and the Taoiseach make great play from time to time when pressed about their strategy for the future of the economy. It is absolutely extraordinary. The two principles are entirely irreconcilable, unless the Deputy Leader can help us out on how the Government seriously thinks we can pursue the creation of a knowledge economy, that the economy can be expanded and that we can have third level institutions at the heart or in crucible of growth in the economy, on which we are often lectured from the Government side. How is that possibly going to occur when the Government's only policy option on third level education is to cut, cut, cut? The heads of the universities, and others, have pointed out the serious implications that will arise from those cuts, including the possibility that departments and entire subject areas will have to be closed. It will certainly lead to a serious undermining of any prospects that universities and other third level institutions have of participating in future economic growth and in society generally.