Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the future of the National University of Ireland; the costs per annum of this body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11857/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In July 2011, the Government decided not to proceed with the implementation of the decision of the previous Government to dissolve the National University of Ireland. Abolition of the NUI would seriously damage a valuable national brand at home and abroad. NUI degrees enjoy a high recognition nationally and internationally. This is important, particularly in medicine and health sciences. NUI institutions are increasingly successful both in attracting international students to Ireland and in delivering programmes on campuses abroad. Abolishing NUI would severely inhibit this growing internationalisation of Irish higher education.

NUI also provides important shared services in awarding and examination to its constituent universities and recognised colleges as well as providing services to graduates. These services would have to be performed by the institutions themselves in the absence of NUI and this limits the savings that would arise from abolition.

The annual State grant to NUI is just less than €13,000 and in 2010 constituent universities paid fees to NUI of approximately €2.2 million.