There is a clear commitment in A Programme for a Partnership Government to equality of access to higher education in terms of supporting an increase in the number of flexible courses and opportunities available. Last week the Castlebar campus of GMIT announced the cutting of four courses at the campus, which clearly represents a loss of opportunity and access to those particular courses. The courses relate to IT, business and heritage. The announcement came at the end of many months of rumours of financial difficulty at GMIT across its four campuses. My question to the Minister is how he plans to address the funding crisis currently being experienced in third level, especially in institutes of technology. The people of Mayo are extremely concerned at the apparent downgrading of the Castlebar campus.

The Deputy raised a range of issues. There is very good progress on equality of access. More people with a disability and more people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds are getting into our higher education system but we need to do more in that area. In terms of funding higher level, for the first time this year we committed to €36 million. A funding slope upwards is committed to by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. We are also putting in place a working group between the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and me to bring forward proposals for an employer-Exchequer funding mechanism so there are a number of initiatives. In respect of the institutes of technology and Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, I recognise that we need to ensure a strong future for the Castlebar campus and work is being done to devise a strong plan for that campus so that it can develop in the future.