Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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346. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline his plans to increase the employer's contribution to higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13598/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Together with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and following a commitment in Budget 2017, I launched a public consultation process on 10 March 2017 on a proposed Exchequer-Employer investment mechanism for higher education and further education and training.

The proposed investment mechanism on which views are sought in the consultation process arises from a recommendation made in the 2016 report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education in order to more equitably reflect in funding terms the benefits derived by employers from the higher education sector. It is proposed to incrementally increase the National Training Fund levy by 0.1% each year between 2018-2020. It is estimated that should employment levels reach those forecast for 2020 together with an assumption of moderate growth in incomes, an increase in the levy from the current rate of 0.7% to 1% by 2020 could yield close to an additional €200 m.

While the consultation process is targeted in the first instance at key industry and employer stakeholders, comments are also invited from members of the public, groups and organisations. Comments may be submitted to the Departments of Education and Skills and Public Expenditure and Reform by 5 p.m. on Thursday 13th April 2017. Full details of the consultation process are available on the websites of both Departments.