Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 March 2022
73. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress that has been made regarding the integration of Carlow College, St. Patrick's, into the higher education system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12758/22]
View answerCarlow College, St. Patrick's is a privately run education institution operating outside the publicly funded higher education system.
The institution plays a key role in the provision of third level education in the Carlow region. I have been delighted to meet with representatives of the college to discuss future plans and to visit Carlow College myself to meet learners and staff.
In April last year the college provided a copy of an independent governance and financial review, which it had commissioned, to my Department seeking views and advice in relation to potential integration within the higher education landscape of the South East.
Following engagement between the college and my Department, I met the college principals at their request in August 2021 and I expressed the view to the college that in order to best position itself for engagement with any future technological university (TU) emerging in the region, the college should consider undertaking a further analysis of its educational provision, resources and student population that could form the basis for an engagement with TU leadership post-establishment.
The subsequently commissioned analysis undertaken by Professor Tom Collins on behalf of the college was forwarded to the Department last month and officials have been engaging with the college president on various aspects of same in the interim and that engagement is continuing.
I would again underline that the engagement undertaken to date does not presume any particular outcome with respect to any role, responsibility or obligation of the future South East Technological University upon establishment as it would be a matter for the TU to determine its own potential role, if any, in respect of a final strategic outcome for Carlow College, St. Patrick's.
Nor does the engagement to date infer or confer any specific role, responsibility or obligation on the Department in terms of any wider value proposition that might be made or considered in respect of the college going forward.
