Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris. I am happy to provide an update on the funding of higher education. I accept that the Senator acknowledged the funding that was provided yesterday in budget 2024.

Since the formation of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science by this Government, there has been a significant improvement in funding to the higher education sector. As announced yesterday, budget 2024 provides a significant increase in funding for higher education with €195 million in additional funding to be allocated to the sector in 2023 and 2024. This funding will lead to increased staffing levels and enhanced support services for students. It will also expand the capabilities of our higher education institutions to deliver on priority skills needs and the further development of tertiary programmes. It includes €60 million under Funding the Future, which builds on the €40 million delivered in last year's budget and is aligned with the intention that over a number of years, further additional core funding will be prioritised through the Estimates process while taking account of the Government's budgetary and fiscal stance. It brings the total committed core funding as part of Funding the Future to €100 million over the two budgets.

It would be remiss of me not to also speak about the reduction in student fees that was announced yesterday, which is really welcome. I was contacted by many people even across my own family yesterday evening and by others through my constituency office who, in some cases, have two students in university. That is very welcome.

The level of increase, particularly in light of other demands on Exchequer funding, demonstrates the Government's commitment to the sector to enable it to fully realise its potential. As part of budget 2024, the Government has provided funding to enhance the number of medicine places for Irish and EU students and for strategic healthcare places, which will facilitate further expansion from September 2024. Funding has also been secured for pay and pensions in the higher education sector and other non-pay costs.

In March 2022, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science published Funding the Future, which the Senator addressed, which recognised a funding shortfall of €307 million for the higher education sector.As announced yesterday, budget 2024 brings the total additional funding allocated under Funding the Future to €100 million in just two budgets. This is in addition to additional funding provided to meet other demands in the sector including demographic pressures and additional pay costs arising from public sector pay agreements. A significant uplift of more than 1,500 core funded posts was also approved this year for the sector in line with increased funding which will enhance student to staff ratios. Senator Clonan spoke about that. I think he said it is 23:1 in Trinity.

Funding the Future confirmed that a mixed funding model would be adopted to ensure the sustainable funding of higher education into the future. This comprises a mix of Exchequer investment, employer contributions through the National Training Fund and student contributions. Funding the Future outlines an ambitious programme of reform, centred on improving quality, driving skills and engagement, enhancing student participation and creating a more unified third level system.

Senator Clonan also spoke about the student experience in third level education. So many students missed that during Covid as they did not get the same experience in those important couple of years. Some students are now graduating who missed a couple of years for that reason.