asked the Minister for Education if he considers that UCD have enough money to continue to provide an educational service at the same level as hitherto.

13.

asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the severe cash shortages in the constituent colleges of the National University of Ireland and at Trinity College; if he will take steps to ensure that these colleges will have sufficient funds to pay staff salaries and runnings costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

14.

asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the stated adverse financial position of university colleges, he will take steps to provide them with sufficient extra funds to obviate the need for fee increases in the academic year 1981-1982; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 to 14, inclusive, together.

The total provision in Vote 35 — Higher Education — for 1981 was made by the Government after very full and careful regard for all relevant considerations. I am satisfied that the allocation of the available resources as recommended by the Higher Education Authority to the individual institutions was made on a fair and equitable basis.

Is the Minister aware that recent statements by spokesmen of the National University of Ireland and Trinty College indicate a massive deficit in relation to funding? The position of the NUI is that they are short about £6 million. The appointment of lecturers has been stopped and the position is even more serious for the academic year 1981-82 when courses may have to be curtailed.

The position as outlined by the Deputy was set out to the Taoiseach and myself in a meeting with the heads of the university colleges and the head of the university. We indicated to the people we met that we would be in touch with them and this will be done in the near future.

Will the Minister not accept that the effect of the allocations has been to twist the arm of the universities to get them to increase their fees in excess of the level of inflation? An increase in fees over the inflation level means that less public money is being spent on university education and the burden transferred to the private purse.

I do not claim there was any such malign purpose in the allocations. I do not think there was any such intention.

Will the Minister not accept that regardless of the intention this is what happened?

No, I do not accept that.

Will the Minister not accept that fees are to be increased by 25 per cent which is even more than the rate of inflation?

Some of the colleges have indicated that they will be making an increase in fees to that amount.

Declaring my interest as a lecturer on secondment and a member of the Federation of University Teachers could I ask the Minister is it not the case that the position is so serious that, even the ability of the colleges to continue paying salaries to the staff to the end of the year is in doubt, and whether there is any other case anywhere else in the whole area to which the Government contribute grants or funds in which that situation has arisen? Is this a unique situation where the Government's provision is inadequate even to pay the salaries of the existing staff?

I am not aware that the salaries of the staff are in danger. I want to assure the leader of the Fine Gael Party that we will be communicating with the heads of the universities as promised when we met them a short time ago.

Before 10 June, I presume?

I do not know why 10 June is regarded as sacrosanct.

It is as good a day as any other.

There are exams around then as the Minister knows.

11 June, I think.

Could the Minister indicate to what extent the requirements of the HEA in respect of capital and current funding of the universities was acceded to by the Government in the context of the 1981 budget?

If the Deputy examines it he will see that the actual contribution has been substantially increased. As I said, we shall be communicating with the heads of the universities in the near future.

Can we take it from the Minister that the moneys sought by the HEA were given to the HEA?

I do not know exactly what that means. The HEA make a bid each year for a substantial sum of money.

What is the shortfall this year?

Do we take it from what the Minister said that he was not able to give the HEA the capital and current sums which they requested for the running of our universities?

The Deputy can take it that the managerial bodies, the other bodies and the HEA, make as big a pitch as they possibly can and the Government take a decision within that request.

There was a substantial shortfall.