Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 May 2024
300. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he and his Department have identified any specific obstacles which may impede improvement and achievement in the further and higher educational sectors and impact our ability to continue to establish Ireland’s reputation as equal to the best globally in higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23494/24]
View answerSince the establishment of my Department in June 2020, a key objective has been the continuing enhancement of quality education provision at third level. My Department has worked to drive performance & governance reform and improved outcomes as we work towards creating a world-class tertiary education system that is accessible, adaptable and aligned with the evolving needs of society.
On May 4th 2022 the Government published Funding the Future, a landmark policy framework on the sustainable funding of the higher education system. It identified a funding gap of €307m to be closed by Government over successive budgets. The framework also identified five priority strands of work, which increased core funding could advance, including a strand in relation to enhancing the quality and international standing of the higher education system.
Budget 2023 saw €40.2m secured under Funding the Future while Budget 2024 saw an additional €65.5 million in core higher education funding. This brings the total additional core funding secured since the publication of Funding the Future in May 2022 to €105.7m. Core higher education funding remains a priority for my Department, and I will continue to work to secure right-sized funding for the sector.
Implementation of the Higher Education Authority Act 2022 continues to be a priority; through this new legislation we are able to bring additional support to the modernisation of governance and accountability mechanisms.
In September 2023, the HEA published a new System performance Framework, which sets out parameters under which higher education institutions demonstrate their unique contribution to the achievement of national strategic priorities and outcomes.
Regarding Further Education and Training, my Department continues to support SOLAS and the ETBs in implementing the FET Strategy: Transforming Learning. The provision of an additional €3m in Budget 2024 will consolidate and expand the progress made across the three core pillars of building skills, fostering inclusion, and facilitating pathways to deliver a more strategic and integrated FET system. The Sectoral Report on the inaugural review of Quality Assurance of FET in the ETB Sector was published in March 2023.
The implementation of the International Education Mark is also being progressed. This will serve to strengthen Ireland’s reputation as a trusted destination and an educational hub with excellent standards for international learners seeking a high quality education experience.
