Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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166. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 166 of 18 May 2022, the status of the working group within his Department to support lifelong learning and explore the extension of financial supports to include part-time students; if the working group will produce a final report; the expected timeline for same; the number of times that the working group has met to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36529/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On the 4th May, I published Funding the Future - a landmark policy on the future of higher education. Government has identified a core funding gap of €307 million, and an ambition to target investment at improving the quality of programmes, their outcomes, and providing a third-level education system which is accessible to everyone in society.

An oversight group has been established to drive reform I co-chair alongside Professor Tom Collins and Professor Anne Looney. This group has met twice, on 25th May and 29th June with further meetings scheduled in September and December 2022.

Two working groups have also been established, Working Group One is chaired by Professor Looney and Working Group Two by Professor Collins.

Working Group One has met twice on 13th June and 4th July. This group will progress recommendations in respect of a funding and reform framework for higher education in relation to:

- Enhance quality and international standing of the higher education system across the three missions of teaching and learning, research and engagement.

- Create a unified knowledge and skills system composed of complementary further and higher education, research and innovation sectors

Working Group Two has also met twice, on the 13th June and 1st July.

This group will progress recommendations in respect of a funding and reform framework for higher education in relation to:

- Driving skills and engagement – with a particular focus on essential public services

- Enhancing student participation and success with a focus on under-represented groups

- Addressing cost as a barrier to higher education and improve student supports

The working groups will be meeting again to further explore matters arising from their meetings and the two chairs will update the oversight group throughout the process.

The output from these structures will be policy advice to me as Minister.