Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to draft an overarching policy strategy plan for the higher education sector here. [24209/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Higher Education System in Ireland is undergoing a programme of unprecedented modernisation and reform. Through implementation of the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030, the aim is to develop the higher education system to equip people with the knowledge and skills necessary to live fulfilled and rewarding lives, and to meet the social and economic challenges facing Ireland.

A core goal for the higher education system under the Systems Performance Framework 2014-2016 is to "meet Ireland's human capital needs across the spectrum of skills by engaged institutions through a diverse mix of provision across the system and through both core funding and specifically targeted initiatives."

The implementation of the System Performance Framework, Strategic Dialogue and agreement of compacts between the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) underpins a changed relationship between the State and the higher education system and provides for a new level of accountability for public funding against national objectives for the public funded higher education system.

The first System Performance Report was published in June 2014 and the second Systems Performance Report is currently being drafted by the HEA and it is expected that it will be ready for publication later in 2016.

In terms of future planning, following the publication of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education, the Oireachtas Committee will consider the issues involved as part of an effort to build a consensus on the future direction of higher education funding. In the meantime, I will be examining the potential for new funding models to ensure that we can deliver results in areas such as disadvantage, skills and research.

In addition, we will be mapping out a multi-year vision for the future of this crucial sector which will see the development of a new Systems Performance Framework for Higher Education for the period to 2021. I will be examining measurement instruments for key areas that will include increasing access for underrepresented groups, flexible and online learning, responsiveness to emerging skills needs, student retention, new apprenticeship models and a renewed focus on improving the quality of the student experience and learning outcomes.

My hope is that this can be done in the context of a broad consensus among political and other stakeholders on the priorities for and future funding of higher education.