Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1127: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the budget of the Higher Education Authority recurrent funding for 2009; the budget for HEA recurrent funding in each year for the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33224/09]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1130: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the Higher Education Authority funding will be reduced as a result of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes proposal to merge the HEA and his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33227/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1127 and 1130 together.

The recurrent provision for the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for 2009 is some €6.236 million. Recurrent funding allocated by my Department to the HEA in each of the past ten years is set out in the attached table. These funds are used to meet the general running expenses of the Authority.

Planned expenditure levels for my Department will be considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2010. This will include consideration of the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, and the decisions on all of the issues arising, including that referred to by the Deputy, will be a matter for the Government. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage pending the outcome of these deliberative processes. Higher Education Authority Recurrent Funding 1999 — 2008

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1128: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the budget for the Higher Education Authority access funding for 2009; the budget for HEA access funding in each year for the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33225/09]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1129: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the envisioned budget for the Higher Education Authority access funding for 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33226/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1128 and 1129 together.

The Third Level Access Measure provides support for disadvantaged students through three sub-priorities: the Students Assistance Fund, the Fund for Students with Disabilities and the Millennium Partnership Fund.

The Higher Education Authority also provides institutions with recurrent funding to develop the necessary infrastructure and programmes of action which support wider access for people with a disability, mature students and young people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The table attached outlines the access allocations for the last decade. The provision for 2010 will be a matter to be decided within the Estimates process which is ongoing at this point.