Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 October 2021
17. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress of delivery of technical university status; the details in relation to Dundalk Institute of Technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49878/21]
View answerIt’s important to say at the outset that it is very much a matter for the governing bodies of autonomous Institutes of Technology to choose their own strategic direction in the higher education landscape.
There have been very significant steps made by Dundalk Institute of Technology in this regard, which I welcome.
DkIT has published its vision to become a dynamic, accessible, student-centred campus of a multi-campus regional TU. This marks meaningful progress on the proposed trajectory towards achieving TU status, enabling staff, students and wider stakeholders to be assured of the direction of travel. Furthermore, they have established a Project Steering Group and an operational project group, which will be important in driving on developments.
DkIT is being assisted in this area by the Higher Education Authority. This includes funding under the Transformation Fund. It also includes technical advice and support from a highly respected HEA special advisor on higher education policy, Dr. Ruaidhri Neavyn, who continues to assist the Institute as an external advisor.
On 8 September the HEA announced the second tranche of transformation fund allocations, bringing to €60m the level of Exchequer support through the fund since 2020. While DkIT has made significant progress in advancing its TU ambitions, it still has funding available from its 2020 transformation allocation. However, should further funding be required in 2022 it can of course engage further with the HEA.
I can assure the Deputy of my and my Department’s continued support and the continued assistance of the HEA for DkIT to make progress towards achieving TU designation in due course.
