Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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146. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has undertaken any assessment or research into the potential loss to the Exchequer arising from emigration to avoid repayment of graduate debt as has happened in other jurisdictions where student loan systems have been introduced. [34202/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware, that the Report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education, published in July, identifies income-contingent loans as being one of the possible options for the future funding of the higher education sector. Other options include a predominantly State-funded system or a State-funded system supplemented with continuing student fees.

The Group in examining the income-contingent loans option noted that the issue of emigration arises in other countries (including the U.K., Australia and New Zealand) that have introduced such a system but it has not undermined the effectiveness of their loan systems.  The Report sets out some possible options that could be adopted to ensure emigrants meet their repayments, however, it also noted that in considering such a scheme for Ireland, further analysis would be required on the issue.

As committed to in the Programme for Government, I have referred the report to the Oireachtas Education Committee and this engagement will form part of the process for formulating a plan for the future funding of the sector.  I do not want to pre-empt the work of the Committee, however, I look forward to working with it as it analyses all of the options put forward by the Expert Group and hears the voice of all stakeholders.