Sean Barrett (Independent)

Arising from yesterday's student protest, I would welcome a debate on education. I am concerned by the growth of overheads and bureaucracy in universities, which has already been noted by an bord snip nua as well as by the Comptroller and Auditor General. It is important in these times to spend resources in the classroom and on lecturing, which is the so-called front line. Three areas in particular are badly needed, which would not be expensive to develop: the problems of mathematics, foreign languages and the shortage of people with economic expertise. They are so badly needed, as has been shown in recent years. These problems could be tackled within budgetary constraints. When the Minister brings forward his sustainability proposals, I hope he will take into account the substantial diversion of resources out of the lecture-hall and into the bureaucrat's office that has taken place in recent years. I gather that report is to be completed shortly. I would like to debate it here because we could do a lot more, even under budgetary constraints, than has happened in recent times.