2. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to address the deficit some domestic universities are experiencing. [26519/25]

Sentiment score: -0.01

Some of Ireland's third level institutions are facing a critical shortfall in core funding, something repeatedly highlighted by the OECD, the European Commission and our universities. Despite rising student numbers and growing demands in staff and infrastructure, core funding remains well below the required level to ensure quality, accessibility and efficiency. Can the Minister outline what steps his Department is taking to address this core funding gap, and will he commit to a roadmap towards significantly increasing core investment in our higher education sector?

Sentiment score: 0.25

I acknowledge there is additional funding of €50 million in the budget for 2025 under Funding the Future. It is great to hear there is an additional €150 million. The Irish Universities Association has welcomed the multiannual approach the Minister's Department has outlined. Investment in education only stands at 2.8% of GDP. It is among the lowest in the OECD, which has an average of 5.7%. I am concerned the financial constraints compromise the quality of education and the well-being of students and staff and it seems contradictory to be attracting foreign talent from abroad when our domestic institutions are in dire need. I am happy that legislation is going to be progressed with the heads of Bill. I urge the Minister to try to do this as quickly as possible. We will lose talent. The Minister wishes to attract talent from abroad but we cannot lose the talent we have already. Students going abroad is also a difficulty.

Sentiment score: 0.17

I agree it is really positive when we have those returns, as the Minister outlined. I know that is one element of looking at education. I want to be clear about what I am saying with regard to attracting people from abroad to come here. I am not saying this is not a good idea. However, when the headlines are focusing on how much money is going to be spent on each of those people, it can read as being a little unbalanced. I totally agree that when we have international talent and academics coming here, we are able, with the students in the universities, to see the best that we have internationally. The Minister is right; in this world, which is becoming smaller in a way but is quite divided, we need to try to find ways that we can all work together. The academics coming from abroad and those here need to be welcomed and we need to have the infrastructure in place. I am glad the Minister has clarified that it is not about pitting one against the other, because I was a little bit nervous when I read that. I was thinking that we cannot be attracting others if we have deficits here, but I am glad the Minister clarified that.

Sentiment score: 0.31