Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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168. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a document (details supplied); if he will examine alternatives to finance this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20983/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education is currently under consideration by the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills. The report sets out a number of potential funding options for higher education in the period to 2030, including increased state funding with deferred payment of student fees.

Following on from the report as the Minister for Education and Skills I have already acted to secure increased funding in Budget 2017 of €36.5m for higher education and to make further provision in the Department’s expenditure ceiling for 2018 and 2019, which, cumulatively, represents an additional €160m investment by the Exchequer in higher education in the period 2017 – 2018.

In addition, the Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are currently completing a public consultation process on a proposed Exchequer-Employer investment mechanism for higher education and further education and training. The proposal under consultation seeks to deliver up to an additional €200m per annum by 2020 through an increase in the National Training Fund levy.

Moreover, as I have stated previously appropriate technical work will be undertaken, including the examination of relevant literature of which there is a wide range, in relation to the option set out in the Expert Group report on deferred payment of student fees through income contingent student loan schemes. The aim of such technical work is to inform future policy options including in the light of recommendations from the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills.

This comprehensive approach is being taken in order to contribute to the development of a long-term sustainable funding model for the sector. As such, it will be important to build broad political and societal consensus on achieving the most appropriate future funding model and my Department and I continue to work to that end.