Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

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. The measures taken over the last two budgets represent the Government’s response to Funding the Future. They signal the policy intention to improve the standing of our higher education system and to progressively bring our funding and staffing levels up. This investment will provide funding to strengthen capacity to deliver on reforms. This includes a reduction in the student to staff ratio.

In closing, the Senator will appreciate that, at this time, it is not possible to provide an indication of measures in budget 2025. The Government is committed to a right-sized and appropriately funded higher education system. We will continue to work through the Estimates process, which is starting now in all Departments, with the intention of delivering further investment in our higher education system. I thank the Senator for raising the issue and I will absolutely address concerns about the funding being provided to the higher education sector to the Minister.