Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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55. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 135 of 19 May 2022, the status of the Higher Education Reform Implementation Review Group; the membership of the group; the terms of reference of the group; the number of meetings that the group has had to date; if he will report on the content of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36526/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On 4^thMay I launched the Funding the Future framework which includes the Government's policy response to the Cassells and DG Reform Reviews on the future of higher education and which sets out my intention to implement a progressive range of measures to address costs as a barrier to education, in the context of overall Budgetary decision-making.

The Implementation Group to which the Deputy refers - per the Government's response to the Cassells Report, Funding the Future - is based on partnership between Government, the higher education sector and wider societal and enterprise interests.

Establishment of HE Reform Group:

I am delighted to chair this Implementation and review group alongside my co-chairs Professor Tom Collins and Professor Anne Looney, both experts in the field. This group will provide guidance to my Department in the rollout of the Funding and Reform Framework and focus on creating a unified system and improving pathways between further and higher education.

The group membership will endeavour to provide ongoing consensus on the outcomes required from the higher education system and to oversee progress against identified reforms to take place alongside implementation of the funding model. Two sub-groups have be established as necessary to take forward key workstreams.

The implementation group for HE Reform has been established. It’s inaugural meeting took place on 25^thMay last with a second meeting held on 29th June. Both sub-groups have held two meetings, WG1 on 13^thJune and 4^thJuly, WG2 also on 13^thJune and subsequently on 1^stJuly.

Membership:Below other members are further listed.

Terms of Reference:

The Terms of Reference attached outline working groups that will address a range of issues.

Papers on recommendations from the Group will inform discussions on the Budgetary process and will be made available subsequently.