Education Minister Bruton hopes for political consensus on sources of funding for higher education

A solution to the third-level education funding crisis is more likely to be reached in the long term than one the Government can find quickly, Education Minister Richard Bruton has admitted.

While a report of experts who considered the options for the past two years is about to be published, he said he is committed more immediately to improving access for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and making better use of existing funding.

The warnings by higher education bosses that the quality of what institutions do is diminishing due to financial shortfalls has again been reflected in the most recent international rankings. Since 2007, the total funding for the average student has fallen more than one fifth by about €10,000 a year, even though most students now pay fees of €3,000 each — up from €1,500 in 2011 — unless they qualify for a grant.