Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
1356. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when works will be completed on the merger of Limerick Institute of Technology and Athlone IT into a technological university; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20764/21]
View answerOn 20 November 2020 I received a joint application under section 29(1) of the Technological Universities Act 2018 from Athlone Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology seeking technological university designation.
On 21 December 2020, I appointed an advisory panel to assess the application and to furnish a report thereon to the HEA. The advisory panel’s report was furnished to the HEA on 12 February 2021. I subsequently received this report along with the views of the HEA on 1 April 2021.
Under section 34(1) of the 2018 Act, I am required within 60 days of receiving and considering the advisory panel report, HEA views and information provided, to notify the applicant institutes of my proposed decision on their joint application.
I am currently considering all relevant material in the context of my role as decision maker under the 2018 Act and within the requisite legislatively prescribed timeframe.
