Debate contribution: Higher Education Funding Review
Debate contribution by Dr Caoimhe Archibald on .
- MLA
- Dr Caoimhe Archibald
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 16 June 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Higher Education Funding Review
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5623989
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for her question. Her question reflects the difficult position that we are in because the Executive have not yet been able to agree a Budget. I note the Fiscal Council's annual review that was published today, which supports the Executive's case that we are not funded in the same way as Scotland and Wales, and I hope that the Treasury takes that on board. We need to see a sustainable Budget that will allow us to invest in our public services; one that will allow me, as the Economy Minister, to invest in our universities in order to develop our local economy. The first piece of work in the higher education funding review was the financial needs assessment, and that has been completed and published. We are developing the terms of reference for the next phase of the work. That is ongoing. We anticipate that the review will take about 18 months to complete. It is important to undertake the work to get a proper insight into the needs of our higher education sector. However, to invest in the sector in the way that we need to, we need a Budget that the Executive can work with, and, as Economy Minister, I need my fair share of it.
212 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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