Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like previous speakers, I welcome the publication of the Cassells report and the recommendations for addressing the funding crisis in the higher education system. This report makes it clear that there is a funding crisis across our third level education system and that more funds need to be invested in this sector to accommodate the young population. There has been a decrease in Exchequer support for third level funding since 2010 and capital investment has also slowed significantly. In addition, spending on research and development has fallen from €938 million in 2008 to €743 million in 2014. Going forward, the option proposed in the Cassells report urgently needs to be addressed by the Oireachtas committee on education and skills.

An important aspect of the whole issue of assessing third level education is people's ability to pay the fees associated with attending college. In order to address one part of the problem, we must look at the grant system. For example, the grant system is based on a PAYE worker's P60, which is based on his or her full gross pay. Also taken into account is the student's P60 and his or her gross income, which more often than not brings him or her over the limit and means that he or she does not receive the grant. It is a massive issue in third level education that there is a two-tier system and that many students are now not qualifying for the grant. I believe this needs to be addressed in order that every student who wants to attend third level college is given the opportunity to do so. In Carlow we are lucky to have two excellent third level institutions, one of which is on course to obtain university status. We need to ensure that these colleges receive the proper funding and that young people who want to attend third level education are not left behind. It is critical that every student who needs to attend college be given that opportunity.

I second the amendment to the Order of Business about the introduction of the National Anthem (Protection of Copyright and Related Rights) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2016.