Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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120. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will bring forward proposals to commission a study on the impact of cuts in Exchequer spending on third level education, particularly in the area of maintenance grants, on students and families and the quality of third level education in Ireland and the international reputation of Ireland's universities. [31151/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I understand that the Higher Education Authority (HEA) is undertaking a study on the sustainability of the current funding system for higher education. This study was initiated at my request and an initial report has been published. This report makes it clear that immediate work is required to prepare for a longer term approach to a system that can be maintained through a sustainable funding base which will be able to address the continual expansion of the sector while protecting the quality of education. The HEA is continuing its work in this area and I will be advised further as this work progresses. The report will help inform decision-making as to the future funding of the sector.

Budget 2013 provided for a 3% reduction in grant income thresholds in 2013 grant scheme. The measure applied to both new and renewal. This reduction in thresholds does not apply to the threshold for the special rate of grant and the threshold for the €2,000 contribution at postgraduate which remained at €31,500 for the 2013/14 academic year.

There was no change in Budget 2013 to any of the student grant rates including the non-adjacent or adjacent rates of grant or the higher special rate of grant for the 2013 financial year.