Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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81. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to further support digital online learning for students in further and higher education to enable their full participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36844/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It has been a significant priority for me and my Department, in the context of the shift to online teaching and learning that has arisen from the public health restrictions, to provide support to students to facilitate connectivity and to examine options designed to seek to minimise the extent to which connectivity challenges act as a barrier to full participation in higher and further education.

In this regard, as part of the package of financial support approved by Government to help underpin the recommencement of higher and further education for the current academic year, my Department allocated €15 million to higher and further education providers for a grant to support disadvantaged students in accessing ICT devices. This initiative which enabled a bulk purchase of approximately 16,500 laptops on behalf of higher education institutions is intended to help address concerns regarding the digital divide in the context of the shift to online and blended models of learning, and the importance of supporting disadvantaged students to adapt to these new models of learning.

The delivery through the National Broadband Plan of high-speed internet connectively nationwide will ultimately provide a solution to current differences in broadband experience for students and learners. In the interim there are initiatives across a number of Government Departments to facilitate connection through community-based broadband hubs and liaison with telecommunication providers on packages, including unlimited data. It is also worth noting that, at the present time HEAnet provides a wi-fi solution - EduRoam - designed by and for the higher education community which operates across the education locations nationally. EduRoam allows a student to access wi-fi wherever EduRoam is broadcast, enabling a student to seamlessly roam from one EduRoam location to another.

HEAnet has extended the reach of EduRoam beyond the traditional campus locations to areas within the wider community. The extended EduRoam footprint greatly overcomes connectivity challenges and facilitates staff and students in effective teaching and learning activities.

In addition, on 11 May 2021, I launched a new project, “Next Steps for Teaching and Learning: Moving Forward Together”, aimed at building an informed vision for the future of teaching and learning in Ireland, co-ordinated by the National Forum and funded through its Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund. Digitalisation has been identified as a strategic challenge across all areas of government within the National Development Plan and higher education has an evolving digital transformation agenda which has been impacted by the recent shift to online/remote teaching and learning. This project will inform upcoming strategic developments at national level as well as being of practical benefit to members of the wider higher education community, and involves a collective consideration of what was known about enhanced teaching and learning across face-to-face, blended and online/remote contexts prior to the pandemic, as well as what we know so far about what has been learned from the experience of the shift to fully online/remote learning since 2020. It is planned that findings and recommendations from this project will be published at a national launch due to take place on 10 November 2021.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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82. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the proposals there are to develop opportunities for additional North/South co-operation in the provision of further education and higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36831/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, there is already a rich legacy of collaboration between Further and Higher Education Institutions on a North-South basis. Many of these have grown due to proximity while others have been facilitated through various EU instruments including the PEACE and Horizon programmes.

The Special EU Programmes Body is currently drafting the next iteration of PEACE PLUS, which will be submitted in due course to the EU Commission for approval. Officials in my Department and the Department of the Economy are currently working together to identify possible actions to address policies such as skills acquisition, and this will in due course offer new opportunities for Further and Higher Education Institutions to deepen collaborative actions in this area.

Furthermore, the UK have confirmed their intention to continue their participation in the Horizon programme, and this will similarly offer opportunities for higher education and research institutions to develop additional opportunities to cooperate.

It is also important to note that the Government, through the Shared Island Initative, is determined to create a positive context for greater North-South collaboration. For example, on 5th July, the Taoiseach and I launched a dedicated North-South Research Initiative, which will be a €40m fund over 5 years, and will be a flagship programme under the Shared Island initiative.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of the Cassells report; when the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36371/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department's Statement of Strategy, which I published on 8 March last, contains a commitment to put in place a sustainable funding model for the higher education. This is essential in ensuring that our higher education institutions can effectively meet high standards of quality and performance, and achieve critical outcomes for our economy and society.

The report referred to in the Deputy's question was commissioned under the European Commission's Structural Reform Support Programme in November 2019. The independent consultants appointed by the Commission - Indecon and LE Europe - were required under the terms of reference to undertake a detailed review of the three specific funding options contained in the report of the Expert Group on Future Funding of Higher Education.

The consultants were also tasked by the Commission with examining the steps necessary to adapt higher education and further education and training provision in Ireland to ensure an alignment between graduate output and qualifications and the current and expected future skills need of the Irish labour market, to provide the country with the right set of skills to ensure inclusive, smart and sustainable growth.

The terms of reference agreed by the Commission also required the consultants to identify options for putting in place a new funding system for higher education in Ireland that would provide equity in access, efficiency in the investment of public resources and sustainability in the face of strong demographic growth.

The final deliverable arising from the project was submitted to the European Commission recently. Following its completion my Department has commenced its examination of the report's analysis, findings, conclusions and recommendations in order to develop proposals for Government to seek to meet the commitment contained in its Statement of Strategy. Once this examination is concluded the report will be submitted to Government for consideration in advance of its publication.

It is, of course, important to acknowledge that in the five years from 2015 a very significant programme of re-investment in higher education has been implemented. Over that period current public expenditure allocated to the higher education sector has increased by in excess of half a billion euros or almost 40 per cent. In 2021 total planned current expenditure funding of the higher education sector exclusive of research provision is in the order of €1.98 billion.

This huge allocation of public resources is a clear demonstration of the Government's commitment to meeting the funding needs of the higher education sector in order to more fully realise its potential in contributing to economic and societal priorities which are central to this country's long-term sustainability.

I am committed to ensuring that we grasp the opportunity provided by the comprehensive and detailed work which has now been completed in relation to this crucial issue and take the actions necessary to increase the sustainability of higher and further education provision in Ireland. This will require a commitment to change and transformation across both higher education and the whole of the tertiary education system. I am confident that all stakeholders are ready to step up to this vital challenge.