Vol. 881 Wednesday, No. 2 10 June 2015. DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 10/06/2015A00100Ceisteanna - Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 10/06/2015A00200Priority Questions� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 10/06/2015A00300Third Level Funding � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 10/06/2015B00150School Guidance Counsellors � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 10/06/2015B00850Pupil-Teacher Ratio � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 10/06/2015C00850Schools Data � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 10/06/2015D01450Disadvantaged Status � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 10/06/2015E00200Other Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 13 10/06/2015E00300Apprenticeship Programmes� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 13 10/06/2015E01300Early School Leavers � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15 10/06/2015F01700Schools Building Project Status � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 17 10/06/2015G00250EU Directives � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 18 10/06/2015G01250Third Level Institutions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20 10/06/2015H00650Special Educational Needs Service Provision � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 22 10/06/2015J00100Draft Commission of Investigation (Certain matters concerning transactions entered into by IBRC) Order 2015: Motion (Resumed) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 23 10/06/2015Q00400Topical Issue Matters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 43 10/06/2015Q00600Leaders’ Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 45 10/06/2015S04700Order of Business � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 53 10/06/2015U06100Curragh of Kildare Bill 2015: First Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 60 10/06/2015W00100Draft Commission of Investigation (Certain matters concerning transactions entered into by IBRC) Order 2015: Motion (Resumed) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 61 10/06/2015LL00500Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 92 10/06/2015XX00300Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015: Order for Report Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 119 10/06/2015XX00600Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 120 10/06/2015ZZ00500Message from Seanad � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 123 10/06/2015ZZ00800Central Bank (Mortgage Interest Rates) Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members]� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 124 10/06/2015SSS00200Superlevy Fine� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 160 10/06/2015UUU00100Rail Services � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 163 10/06/2015VVV00300General Practitioner Services � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 166 DÁIL ÉIREANN Dé Céadaoin, 10 Meitheamh 2015 Wednesday, 10 June 2015 Chuaigh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle i gceannas ar 9�30 a�m� Paidir. Prayer. 10/06/2015A00100Ceisteanna - Questions 10/06/2015A00200Priority Questions 10/06/2015A00300Third Level Funding 10/06/2015A004001� Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on recent comments by a person (details supplied) of the Higher Education Authority that due to the shortfall of capital and staff investment in the higher education system since 2012, it is not reasonable to expect universities and colleges to accept additional students; and if she will make a statement on the matter� [22322/15] 10/06/2015A00500Deputy Charlie McConalogue: I seek the Minister’s views on the recent comments by the chief executive of the Higher Education Authority, Mr� Tom Boland, that owing to the shortfall in capital and staff investment in our higher education system since 2012, it is not reasonable to expect universities and colleges to accept additional students� 10/06/2015A00600Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): The reality of the economic situation and the public expenditure corrections which had to be made in recent years presented challenges across all areas of public expenditure, including higher education� The sector has responded well to these challenges and has continued to provide opportunities for increasing numbers of students wishing to undertake a higher education qualification. In recognition of the pressures that higher education institutions are under, an expert group, chaired by Peter Cas- sells, has been established to examine future funding options for higher education� The objec- 2 10 June 2015 tive is to identify a range of approaches which, combined, will achieve a sustainable funding base to address the continual expansion of the sector while protecting the quality of education� The group is due to report at the end of this year and its report will help inform decisions on future funding for the sector� I believe that seeking to pre-empt the conclusions of the group at this stage is unhelpful� 10/06/2015A00700Deputy Charlie McConalogue: I am disappointed by the anaemic detail provided in the Minister’s response� There is a real crisis in our third level sector� As pointed out by Mr� Bo- land in his commentary, there has been a 15% increase in third level student numbers over the past five years and alongside that, a 12% reduction in staff numbers. Overall, there was a 24% reduction, per student, in State funding during that period, leading to real pressures across the college system and a deterioration in pupil-teacher ratios� Undoubtedly, this has put massive pressure on the sector and has affected the quality of third level education� Meanwhile, the Government refuses to address this issue, to be up-front about it or even acknowledge it� As in the case of other issues, this can is being kicked down the road� The Government has sought reports previously from the Higher Education Authority but has failed to act on them� 10/06/2015A00800An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: A question, Deputy� 10/06/2015A00900Deputy Charlie McConalogue: I understand the group chaired by Mr� Cassells will not report until the end of this year� I seek the views of the Minister on the comments of the HEA chief executive in relation to whether it is acceptable to continue to expect colleges to accept further students without provision of the necessary funding to cater for them� I ask the Minister to address that specific point. 10/06/2015A01000Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: As Deputy McConalogue knows, there has been pressure across all sectors of the education system as well as across all Departments, because of the need to cut funding over the past number of years� The Deputy knows well why that was the case� The higher education sector has responded well to the increased student numbers and continues to provide an excellent education for people in Ireland wishing to go on to higher education� Internationally, comparisons are very good� Ireland has a very high reputation in terms of its higher education and a high transfer of young people from post-primary to higher education� I attended an international conference in University College Dublin last night at which the re- sponse, generally, from the international guests in relation to the quality of education in Ireland at higher education level was very positive� I commend the universities and institutes of technology for what they have done with the reduced funding, which was an inevitable consequence of the economic crash and they know that� As I said previously, as soon are we are in recovery, we will start to look at putting some money back into all sectors in
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