Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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158. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will conduct a technical evaluation into the reduction and phasing out of the student contribution charge for third level institutions as per one of the recommendations in the Cassells report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33312/17]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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159. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to determine the feasibility of the recommendation in the Cassells report that third level education be fully publicly funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33313/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 159 together.

The report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education outlines three main funding options for the future funding of the higher education sector.

These options are currently being considered by the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills. The outcome of the Committee’s deliberations will inform future policy decisions in this area.

Technical work will be undertaken by my Department as necessary in order to address technical issues relating to the funding options that are presented in the report of the Expert Group. However, no policy decisions will be taken in advance of the outcome of the Joint Committee’s deliberations.