Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I cannot answer for the Minister, but I am sure if Senator Clonan writes to his office such a meeting would be considered.

He is correct that Trinity College Dublin rose in two major world rankings published this year from 161st to 134th in the Times Higher Education, THE, rankings and, quite rightly, from 98th to 81st in the QS World University Rankings, which is very significant. After being outside the top 100 in the QS rankings from 2018- 22, it is very significant that, as Senator Clonan says, it re-entered the top 100 last year, and climbed a further 17 places this year. While useful, these rankings provide a limited view of the higher education system. They do not take into account, for example, the student experience or the broader social role played by higher education institutions in supporting access and tackling educational disadvantage.

In closing, I would like to confirm the Government's commitment to a right-sized appropriately funded higher education system. The best option for Senator Clonan is to write to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, to see if he can facilitate a meeting.