Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, I am not in a position to give the Senator a publication date today. Suffice to say that, apart from my previous opening remarks, there is a serious commitment in the programme for Government on addressing the sustainability and the funding model of our higher education sector. That has also formed part of the negotiations and the discussions between the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in advance of budget 2022 in the context of providing a multi-annual funding stream for our higher education sector, which I think will drive a lot of Government discussion and consideration quite shortly.

The Department will continue to work with stakeholders on this comprehensive analysis of funding options for higher education and the assessment of the appropriate balance in provision across the tertiary education system. Our Department is committed to ensuring we will utilise the opportunity provided by the independent and comprehensive report, which has now been completed. The sustainability of the further and higher education system is a critical issue which will enable extensive transformation and responsiveness to central Government priorities. This requires a sustained commitment to investment and transformation, and we are actively engaged in the Estimates process for 2022, which I have outlined to the Senator.

In addition, my Department is continuing to address the demographic pressures on the sector through the provision of additional places in further and higher education, to which the Senator himself has alluded. We are also seeking additional funding for sectoral pensions. There is quite a large and serious pensions issue right across our universities.

Through the recent publication of the national development plan, we welcome additional Exchequer investment of nearly €2.9 billion in further and higher education infrastructure, research and innovation over the five-year period 2021 to 2025. The overall objective of this investment is to support a knowledge-based, resilient and innovative society and economy in which all citizens will have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

While I cannot give the Senator a specific date, this is a key priority within both the Department and the Government and I hope we will hear more about it in the not-too-distant future.