Institutes of Technology

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 March 2022

Tuesday, 29 March 2022

Questions (527)

Gerald Nash

Question:

527. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide detailed breakdown of the total cost of external professional legal advice provided to the office of a person (details supplied) at Dundalk Institute of Technology since 1 January 2019; the purpose, subject matter and cost of each form of advice sought; if the office procured any advice from any legal firm in relation to contractual issues relating to the duration of the contract and tenure of the person; if any such costs that may have been incurred were met by the institute in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16628/22]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

My Department has not engaged the services of any legal firm for the office of Dundalk Institute of Technology as referred to by the Deputy.

My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions, including Dundalk Institute of Technology. The HEA allocates this funding as a block grant to the institutions and as autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of this funding is a matter for the individual institution.