Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023

Tuesday, 13 June 2023

Questions (1350, 1351, 1352, 1354, 1360, 1361, 1362, 1378)

Noel Grealish

Question:

1350. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update with regard to the Technological University Development Fund, the proposed successor to the Technological University Transformation (TUT) Fund; if this fund will be made available in advance of the expiration of the TUT Fund in August 2023; the level funding that will be made available under the new TUT fund; if the TUs that merged more recently will be treated equally with the TUs who merged earlier; if he is open to keeping in place funding for existing supports which are in place at this important juncture in the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27587/23]

Denis Naughten

Question:

1351. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can provide an update with regard to the Technological University Development Fund, the proposed successor to the Technological University Transformation (TUT) Fund, given that there are a multitude of systems and processes which need to be integrated and aligned particularly for the recently established TUs; if he will retain the existing financial supports for such institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27591/23]

Catherine Connolly

Question:

1352. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update with regard to the technological university development fund, the proposed successor to the technological university transformation (TUT) fund; if this fund will be made available in advance of the expiration of the TUT Fund on 31 August 2023; the level of funding to be made available under the new TUT fund; if he will confirm that those technological universities (TUs) that merged more recently will be treated equally with the TUs that previously merged; if he will confirm that funding will be kept in place for existing supports which are in place at this crucial juncture in the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27596/23]

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

1354. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the technological university development fund will be made available in advance of the expiration of the technological university transformation fund (TUTF) on 31 August 2023; what level funding is going to be made available under the new TUT fund; if the Technological University (TUS) who merged more recently will be treated equally with the TUS which merged earlier; if he is open to keeping in place funding for existing supports which are in place at this very important juncture in the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27601/23]

Seán Canney

Question:

1360. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can provide an update with regard to the Technological University Development Fund, the proposed successor to the Technological University Transformation Fund (details supplied); if this fund will be made available in advance of the expiration of the Technological University Transformation Fund on 31 August 2023; the level of funding that will be made available under the new TUT fund; if the TUs that merged more recently will be treated equally with the TUs who merged earlier; if he is open to keeping in place funding for existing supports which are in place at this important juncture in the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27685/23]

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

1361. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update with regard to the technological university development fund, the proposed successor to the technological university transformation (TUT) fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27705/23]

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

1362. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, in light of the technological universities' recent designation, and the requirement for successor funding for the necessary internal infrastructure and the need to maintain stable industrial relations at a critical time of change, this fund will be made available in advance of the expiration of the TUTF fund on 31 August 2023; the level of funding that is going to be made available under the new TUT fund; if the TUs that merged more recently will be treated equally with the TUs that merged earlier; and if he is open to keeping in place funding for existing supports which are in place at this very important juncture in the project. [27706/23]

Dara Calleary

Question:

1378. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update with regard to the technological university development fund, the proposed successor to the technological university transformation (TUT) fund; if this fund will be made available in advance of the expiration of the TUT fund on 31 August 2023; the level of funding that is going to be made available under the new TUT fund; if the TUs who merged more recently be treated equally with the TUs who merged earlier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28157/23]

Written answers

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1350 to 1352, inclusive, 1354, 1360 to 1362, inclusive, and 1378 together.

The Technological University Transformation Fund (TUTF) is a three-year fund (1 September 2020 – 31 August 2023) that invested €90 million in the technological sector to assist with the development and progression of technological universities. Technological university consortia, technological universities, and institutes of technology received funding under the TUTF, with the final tranche of TUTF funding of €30 million dispersed in Q4 2022 by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) which administers the fund and with funded projects due to conclude on 31 August this year.

It is important to note that our higher education and research system is successful by nature of its diversity, within and across regions. Each former Institute of Technology, and now TUs, are distinctive by nature of their strategy, their location, their scale, their mission, and their stage of development. TUTF funding is allocated by the HEA in a managed fashion in response to requests from TUs taking account of all of these factors and based on stated and evidenced institutional needs.

My Department understands that the HEA is currently engaging with institutions on progress with TUTF funding ahead of the August 31 end date for the fund this year, which includes a process to facilitate a 12-month administrative extension for institutions that require additional time to compete elements of their TUTF projects.

In parallel, Department officials are currently liaising with their HEA counterparts regarding the requirement for further support for the technological sector in the context, inter alia, of finalisation of projects being funded by TUTF, the recent OECD report on academic career paths, contracts and organisation in Irish TUs and the ongoing operational and developmental needs of the sector in line with the Technological Universities Act 2018 and national strategy for higher education and research.

In this context any future TU funding will also complement the significant additional funding of some €124 million secured by Government for the progression of various elements of the TU agenda under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to 2024 and under the European Regional Development Fund to 2027.

I am committed to ensuring requisite TU oriented funding is provided as appropriate during the crucial post-establishment phase whether through Exchequer or co-funded EU sources.

Question No. 1351 answered with Question No. 1350.

Question No. 1352 answered with Question No. 1350.