James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

75. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions being taken in his Department on third level reform, as outlined in his Department's strategy statement for 2016 to 2019. [9928/17]

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

Our Higher Education System 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.

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

I published the second Systems Performance Report in December 2016 and this reviewed the performance of the higher education system for the years 2014 and 2015, in critical areas such as access and its responsiveness to skills needs of the economy. I am developing a new Systems Performance Framework for the period 2017 – 2021 which will set out the ambition, goals and objectives for higher education for this five year period.

Far-reaching restructuring of the higher education landscape is already progressing, with ongoing institutional merger projects designed to enhance the quality and sustainability of the education provided to students attending those institutions. Successful restructuring can be seen, particularly in the process for reforming initial teacher education, and in the process for the development of technological universities.

The Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education, under the chairmanship of Peter Cassells, was established to develop a strategy for funding the third level sector. The Report which was published in July 2016, clearly outlines the funding challenges in the higher education sector and offers a number of approaches and recommendations for consideration for the medium term.

As committed to in the Programme for Government, the report has been referred to the Education Committee as part of the process for formulating a plan for the future of the sector. The Department is looking forward to working with the Education Committee as it analyses all of the options put forward by the Expert Group and hears the voice of all stakeholders.

While Cassells deals with the medium and long term funding needs of higher education we also have to consider the immediate challenges and in that context the Department placed a particular focus on this area in Budget 2017 securing additional funding for the sector for the first time in recent years.  

This year an additional €36.5 million will be made available with €160 million additional over the next three years. This will allow the sector keep pace with demographic increases and introduce targeted initiatives in areas such as disadvantage, skills, research and flexible learning. Among those who will benefit from the additional third level funding being made available are students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lone parents and Travellers.

In Budget 2017 the Minister for Public Expenditure and I announced a policy review with the aim of designing and implementing a sustainable and predictable multi-annual funding model for higher and further education and training involving increased Employer and Exchequer contributions from 2018. This review will be undertaken as part of the overall response to meeting the anticipated skills needs in the economy over the coming years, in line with the policy framework set out in the National Skills Strategy.

This review will include an analysis of the business case for enhanced investment in the higher and further education and training sectors. In this context it will identify key elements of the new funding model and of the expected impacts including those on employers. The review will include consultation with stakeholders.

The policy review will complement the ongoing work by the Oireachtas Committee in relation to the Cassells report. A review of the funding model for higher education (RGAM) is also being carried out and the new model is due to be in place for the 2018 budget allocation. Completion of the review will underpin delivery across the sector and enhance progression on the goals set out in the Action Plan for Education.