Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 272: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of times the review committee on higher education has met in 2009; and when he expects to receive its report. [41006/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The process to develop a new national strategy for higher education is being led by a high level Strategy Group under the Chairmanship of Dr Colin Hunt. The group has met on seven occasions since its establishment in February 2009.

A vibrant responsive higher education system will be crucially important in terms of Ireland's future development and the Strategy Group are cognisant of the need to fully engage with all stakeholders in the sector and wider society. A first round of consultation was completed in the Summer under which an open call for written submissions elicited a significant and valuable response. More than 100 submissions were received and are available on the Higher Education Authority website: www.hea.ie. I understand that the Strategy Group are undertaking additional detailed consultations to fully inform the development of the new strategy. I expect that the overall process of finalising the strategy report will be completed early in the New Year.