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Opening Remarks & Speaking Points for Minister Harris Joint Oireachtas Committee Meeting 19th October 2022 Introduction • Thank you Chair for the invitation here today to discuss our plans for the sustainable future funding of the Higher Education Sector, student accommodation and the other agenda items which we have multiple work streams underway in DFHERIS to address.
• I previously stated to this committee that neither I nor the Government would be found wanting when it comes to addressing the question of sustainable funding.

It has profound impacts for our economy, society and the citizens we all serve.

• So I’m pleased to be with you here today to discuss our progress in implementing Funding the Future, our policy response to underfunding in the sector - which of course I updated you on earlier this year.
• Before that however it would be remiss of me not to note the work of the committee in their report on Sustainable Funding.

As I outlined in my written response to you, a great many of its recommendations dovetail with our priorities in Funding the Future, particularly the focus on staffing, quality and how those two important strands inter-relate in Higher Education.

• You’ll recall that Funding the Future went beyond being a direct response to the European Commission’s DG Reform Review.
It settled the question on both the funding model and the funding gap once and for all.

• It provided a clear and detailed economic assessment to the funding option presented 2016’s Cassells report as was requested by this Committee in 2019.

• The Government ruled out the possibility of introducing student loans into the system, and committed to a multi- funded model of additional Exchequer investment and employer contributions through the National Training Fund.
• I also committed to an annual assessments of the cost of living and the cost of undertaking Higher Education for students in Ireland.

The first of these assessments was published by my Department in August and for the first time it informed our decision making in the Estimates process in a transparent and objective manner.
• Our intention for Funding the Future, as I stated to you back in May, was to put in place a process to implement the reforms identified in the policy – which, let’s remember, came via the European Commission and the Cassells Report– through formal partnership with the sector and key stakeholders.

• That process has now begun.

I’m pleased to say that the Future Funding Implementation and Review Group – has now been convened, with Professors Anne Looney and Tom Collins acting as my co-chairs.
• Alongside both Professors, all the strands of Higher Education are represented, as is Further Education, and our Union colleagues and IBEC partners.

• Professor Collins and Looney are also leading both Working Groups.

Working Group 1, led by Professor Looney has the remit to progress quality and the integration and unification of our education, research and innovation sectors.

• Under Professor Collins Working Group Two is focusing on student participation, cost and skills and engagement.
Inclusion is one of the core strategic goals for the Department, and the development of the new Strategic Action Plan for Equity of Access, Participation and Success in Higher Education fits with the ambition of the Department to ensure that we provide supports and opportunities for learning to all.

• Both Working Groups met several times over the summer period and were in a position to report back on substantial discussions to myself and the Oversight Group earlier this month.
• I’m happy to also update you today on the outcome for Funding the Future from Budget 2023.

• Over 2022 and 2023 an additional €150m is being made available to the Higher Education sector.

• In 2023 additional ongoing core funding of €40m is being provided to improve quality and sustainability, €32m additional to provide sectoral capacity for demographic demand and €20m additional for pension costs.
• There will also be a reduction of €500 in the student contribution fee for eligible grant applicants earning between €62,000 and €100,000; and the threshold for the student contribution 50% grant (€1,500) has been increased to €62,000.
• In prioritising core funding increases, my intention is that quality of outcomes will improve, the agility and responsiveness of higher education will be strengthened and the reputation of Ireland’s higher education system will be enhanced, including in international rankings.

Student Accommodation • To turn to student accommodation, it’s clear that too many students have faced huge issues in securing accommodation, this year, the first one back after Covid.
• My Department is currently developing a new policy that supports the delivery of additional purpose-built student accommodation.

• This will involve the State for the first time assisting with the cost of building student accommodation.

This will make more units available, and in particular we will promote greater access for student groups in line with the National Access Plan.
• A new and dedicated unit for student accommodation has been established in my Department to develop this policy and I will be bringing this new policy to Government shortly.
• In developing this new policy approach, I and my officials and I have engaged and continue to engage on an ongoing basis with the Minister and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the wider higher education sector and relevant stakeholders on student accommodation issues including within the context of the advancement of the Government's Housing for All policy.
• In June this year I met with the presidents and chairs of all the traditional universities and technological universities to discuss any immediate proposals they may have identified or be able to identify in relation to any additional student accommodation provision that may be pursued in the short to medium terms and my Department is continuing to liaise with the higher education institutions in this regard.
In a welcome development, the sector indicates that hundreds of additional bed spaces are to be made available by higher education institutions for the start of the forthcoming academic year.

• My Department is also ready to work with any of the new technological universities to support them to borrow to build student accommodation.

• In addition to the extra accommodation which is being put in place this year, amounting to hundreds of beds, it is also open to homeowners to rent a room to students.
All higher education institutions continue to support their students to find accommodation in the private rental sector through, for example, the encouragement of room rental or ‘student digs’ in family homes.

Many also maintain online databases where students can search for and check out accommodation, advertisements for room rentals can be placed and advice on sample rental agreements provided.

Institutions are actively promoting this option in their localities.
A homeowner can rent a room, retain their social welfare entitlements where applicable and earn up to €14,000 in rental income before having to pay tax.

This is an approach which I fully support and encourage.

PhD Candidates • On the remuneration of PhD candidates the most recent HERD (Higher Education Expenditure on Research and Development) Survey found that there were 10,044 research students (doctoral and masters by research), of which 3,901 (39%) were fully self-funded.
• The majority of PhD students are in receipt of grants from their individual institutions and other research funders such as the Irish Research Council (IRC), Science Foundation Ireland (SFI).

SFI currently supports 2,022 PhDs and the IRC currently funds 918 PhDs (an additional 225 confirmed PhD award holders will commence on 1 September 2022).
North South Cross Border Enrolment • I would like to thank the Committee for its thoughtful contribution to the question of North South Enrolment in Tertiary Education, and specifically its series of recommendations.

• The Chair will be aware that I have provided under separate cover a detailed response to the report – it is a very timely contribution to the question of North-South student mobility.
• I am convinced not just of the need to facilitate mobility, but also to ensure that firm foundations of collaboration between further and higher education institutions are protected, and enhanced.

• There are common challenges facing education systems, North and South.

• It is in the interests of all of us – North and South - to ensure that every young person on island of Ireland has access to the best possible educational opportunity.
• This is vital not only to our shared economic prosperity but to the underpinning of peace on this island.

Withdrawal of CORU accreditation at DBS • With regard to the withdrawal of accreditation for the Applied Social Care Course at DBS, I fully respect CORU's role as an independent regulator and also fully support the regulation of the profession.
• There must be appropriate mechanisms to ensure fitness to practice and the protection of the most vulnerable in society, and so regulation is being introduced and the system to accreditation.

is currently undergoing transition the • The Social Care Workers Register is due to open on the 30 November 2023.

This would begin a 2-year transition period for existing practitioners to apply to register with CORU.
On the 30th November 2025, the title 'Social Care Worker' is due to become a legally protected title in Ireland.

• My officials are engaging with all relevant parties and will continue to do so.

Conclusion • Finally, colleagues across the Houses, can I say again how grateful I am for the support and input you have given over the years in keeping the issue of sustainably funding in Higher Education alive.
• As I have said in this House numerous times, education is the greatest of levellers and it is for all our families and not just the sector itself, that we are putting Higher Education on a sustainable path for the long term.