To ask the Minister for the Economy to provide an update on the future funding for higher education institutions.

I am committed to supporting a thriving local Higher Education sector. This is critical for students, a strong and regionally balance economy, as well as civic society.

In the absence of sufficient funding from the British Government, all Departments are under significant financial pressure. In this difficult context I am focussed on maximising the impact and effectiveness of the resources available.

I am currently considering how best to allocate my budget and am also acutely aware of the impact of passing cuts onto the Higher Education sector. However, there financial challenges right across my Department which spans Invest NI, colleges, tourism, the TV and film industries, and energy.