Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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242. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he favours the introduction of a third level loan scheme; his views on the impact the introduction of similar scheme has had on access to third level education in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22050/16]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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250. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the European Investment Bank has offered the Government funds to start a student loans scheme; if the Government has accepted, rejected or done nothing in response to such an offer; if the offer is still open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22202/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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296. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will release the detailed studies of the operation of student loan schemes to fund third level education in other countries referenced in the Cassells report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22422/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 242, 250 and 296 together.

The Report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education, published recently, is comprehensive and clearly outlines the funding challenges in the sector and offers a number of approaches and recommendations for consideration including the option of introducing a deferred payment system for student fees which would be facilitated by way of an income contingent loan system.

While the report sets out a range of cost estimates and example scenarios as to how such a scheme might operate, the Group recommends that if Government decide to move to this funding model, an implementation team should be established to design the system and would have to take account of several different factors. It would also analyse in detail such systems used in other countries. I am not aware of any offer from the European Investment Bank to start a student loan scheme.

As committed to in the Programme for Government, I am referring the report to the Education Committee as part of the process for formulating a plan for the future of the sector. This will ensure that all of the options put forward by the Group are fully examined.

We will require political and societal consensus to enable us to move forward with a realistic and achievable strategy for funding the system into the future. I do not want to in any way influence the Education Committee's work which must analyse all of the options put forward by the Expert Group and allow the voice of all stakeholders and all sides of the debate to be heard.