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Technological Universities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 March 2022

Tuesday, 8 March 2022

Questions (96, 102)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

96. 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 of same in relation to Dundalk Institute of Technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12801/22]

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Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

102. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will report on the advice and support services that the Higher Education Authority is providing to Dundalk Institute of Technology in order to progress technological university status designation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12675/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 102 together.

Progress of Dundalk Institute of Technology

Dundalk Institute of Technology has indicated in its strategic plan and in engagements with the Higher Education Authority (HEA), its objective to attain TU status in due course.  

I am supportive of the Institute’s ambitions in this regard and both my Department and the HEA continue to support the Institute on its trajectory to achieve TU status through Exchequer funding under the Transformation Fund and the deployment of a special advisor to assist the Institute.

With regard to the HEA special advisor, Dr. Ruaidhri Neavyn, he has to date engaged with the Institute in the development of a plan to progress towards meeting the TU eligibility criteria stipulated under the Technological Universities Act 2018 and which  plan is being funded from the Transformation Fund.

Dr. Neavyn has assisted the Institute in imagining its future vision and contribution to a TU which has been used to engage stakeholders and any potential partner TU and he has assisted the Institute in engaging such stakeholders and contributed to its approach to engaging with TUs.

Dr. Neavyn has in the course of providing assistance to Dundalk Institute of Technology met with appropriate groupings and stakeholders on an ongoing basis and participated in the Institute’s TU related meetings including TU steering group meetings, governing body or relevant sub-committee meetings and leadership team meetings.

Given that Dundalk Institute of Technology will need to demonstrate an ability to achieve the TU eligibility criteria metrics in order to achieve its ambition, and given the network of TUs established and in view, it is more likely the Institute’s ambition to be part of a multi-campus TU will de facto require to be considered under section 38 of the 2018 TU Act which provides for the merger of an Institute of Technology with an existing TU.

The Department and HEA will continue to support as appropriate the Institute in seeking to achieve TU status.

Progress of Delivery of Technological University Status

Considerable progress has been made in this area, since the passage of the Technological Universities Act 2018, with the following institutional; consolidations and mergers:

- On 01 January 2019, Dublin Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown, and Institute of Technology, Tallaght, consolidated into Technological University Dublin;

- On 01 January 2021, Cork Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology. Tralee, consolidated into Munster Technological University;

- On 01 October 2021, Athlone Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology consolidated into Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest;

- On 01 April 2022, it is planned that Galway-Mayo, Sligo and Letterkenny Institutes of Technology will be dissolved and consolidated into Atlantic Technological University; and

- On 01 May 2022, it is planned that Waterford Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology, Carlow will be dissolved and consolidated into South East Technological University

Since 2013 Government has provided over €90 million under firstly the Higher Education Landscape Fund, and since 2020 under the TU Transformation Fund to consortia of Institutes of Technology. This funding has the objective of advancing consortia proposals for TU establishment and assists newly established TUs in the post-establishment transition period when these TUs are seeking to embed regionally and deliver on their various legislative functions. A further €30 million allocation will be provided under the Transformation Fund this year.

In addition, Government has secured €40 million under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan in the period to 2024 for a TU education and training reform programme and is also seeking to secure over €80 million for a TU regional research development and innovation integration (RRDII) programme under the ERDF Co-Funded Regional Programmes 2021-2027.

A number of TU development consortia and established TUs are also receiving support for new or refurbishment related capital programmes with the assistance of my Department and the Higher Education Authority. There will also be further opportunity for TUs to submit capital proposals in the near future.

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