Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. We all know how important higher education is. I accept that the Government has made a good start with the new Department and increased public funding. However, while it talks about the scale of the ambition, we have to be able to put the resources behind that. I plead with the Minister of State to take back to the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, and the Minister, Deputy Harris, that we finally have to address this funding question. We could commission many more reports and they would all tell us the exact same thing. The sector is responding as effectively as it can. There is little more that can be trimmed back in the sector. If we are going to continue to provide the opportunities, expand and meet the technological challenges we are facing, we have to address that funding question. The Cassells report cannot be left to be kicked down the road any further.