Thomas Byrne
Question:252. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status the development of each of the proposed technological universities. [7886/20]
View answerWednesday, 27 May 2020
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Written answers
As autonomous, independent, higher education institutions it remains a matter for individual institutes of technology engaged in a consortium progressing proposals for technological university (TU) designation under the requirements of the Technological Universities Act 2018 to progress their proposals appropriately subject to their particular circumstances.
In this context yesterday, following the conclusion of the consultation and decision-making process prescribed by the 2018 Act, I notified the applicant institutes of Cork IT and IT Tralee of my final decision to grant their application as the MTU consortium for the making of an order under 36 of the 2018 Act to be established as a TU, subject to the prescribed Oireachtas approval process and with a view to the establishment of the new TU on 1 January 2021.
Three other TU development consortia continue to work towards the submission of applications under the Act. The Department understands that the Connacht Ulster Alliance consortium of Letterkenny IT, IT Sligo and Galway Mayo IT, is planning, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria, to submit an application by the end of this year. The consortium comprising Athlone IT and Limerick IT has a submission date in view for their application of October 2020. The TUSEI consortium comprising IT Carlow and Waterford IT continues to develop its application and is in the process of establishing a fulltime project office and implementing key elements of a cross-institutional change management programme.