Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My concern relates to the fact that we have a small number of private higher education providers that meet a need within the State. I am a big supporter of the public education system. Senator Gavan seems to suggest that these providers are somehow damaging our education system. They are not; they are supplementing it. The SUSI grant scheme should be extended to those other institutions. Some of them, such as the Royal College of Surgeons and the National College of Ireland, are what you might call halfway-house institutions. The Minister will be aware of the various issues we discussed around designation in this regard. While asserting the public nature of our system, at the same time, we must recognise the importance of the role of a number of the private providers. Those private providers are still subject to the same requirements that Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, set out with regard to the quality of the qualifications that need to be provided.

I accept that amendment No. 15, which was tabled the Independent Senators, relates to the transparent use of public money. This reinforces what the legislation is about. The Bill legislation is about accountability regarding the use of public money. What is proposed is simply changing some of the wording but it is a very clear acknowledgement of what the legislation is about. It is not about academic autonomy; it is very much about the questions of financial accountability.