Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on salary costs as a percentage of overall higher education sector spend; if he is satisfied with the current percentage cost; his plans to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27729/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The 2011 current funding provision for the higher education sector, which is in the region of €1.2 billion, is down 7% on the allocation for 2010. This reduction is a net 3% when additional income from the new Student Contribution charge of €2,000 is taken into account. Pay expenditure represents approximately 70% of total current expenditure in the sector. This represents a significant proportion of total expenditure and given that these, for the most part, are fixed costs it impacts on the flexibility institutions have in managing their budgets.

The economic circumstances of the country are such that a staffing moratorium was introduced across the public sector by the previous Government in 2009. A 6% reduction in numbers was required over the 2009-2010 period and this has been achieved. Earlier this year I agreed a renewed framework covering the 2011 to 2014 period which requires a further reduction in posts over this period.