Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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37. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding for third level institutions will be increased in order to end the practice of charging students fees and charges for certain services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14379/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, my Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding as a block grant to the institutions included.

However, as autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of this funding including the determination of the fee rate applicable for certain services is a matter for the Governing Authority of each institution.

Higher education is a central part of our plan as a Government to support a strong economy and deliver a fair society.  The Report of the Expert Group on Future Funding (Cassells Report) which was published in July 2016, clearly outlines the funding challenges in the higher education sector and offers a number of potential policy approaches for consideration.