Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
2072. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to clarify the rationale behind the decision by the HEA to reduce funding for Atlantic Technological University by abolishing the TUFT funding, where it will now only receive one year's post-merger funding, given the positive impact it has had on the development of the TUs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39106/23]
View answer2074. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what steps the HEA will take to mitigate the risks posed to the success of Atlantic Technological University by the reduction in funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39108/23]
View answer2075. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline how Atlantic Technological University will be able to fully integrate its operations and programmes, or develop its research and innovation capacity, with only one year of TUFT funding in comparison to other TUs; his views on whether it is fair to expect ATU to meet the same financial targets as more established universities, given that it is a new university still in its early stages of development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39109/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2072, 2074 and 2075 together.
Firstly I should underline that there is no reduction in funding to Atlantic Technological University (ATU) or to any other Higher Education Institution (HEI) in the technological sector as the Deputy states. The TU Transformation Fund (TUTF) was always time limited between 2020-2023 so ends this year and has been replaced by a similar quantum of funding under the new Technological Sector Advancement Fund (TSAF) which I launched on 20 July. On 20 July I launched the new €50 million fund (TSAF) as the successor to previous HE Landscape and Transformation Funds and in addition to the ongoing EU-funded National Recovery and Resilience Plan N-TUTORR project worth €40m of which ATU is availing along with other eligible HEIs in the technological sector and the almost €84m in funding under the TU Research and Innovation Supporting Enterprise scheme (TU RISE), which is co-financed by the Government of Ireland and the European Union and for which eligible HEIs in the technological sector, including ATU, again may apply for funding. The aim of the TSAF is to advance the strategic development of the technological sector. The new fund, will be managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and will make a contribution towards the costs of maintaining or initiating new activities that are central to relevant institutions in the sector delivering on their mission and strategic plans. A key objective of TSAF is to support institutions to mainstream activities commenced under previous funding streams dedicated to the transformation of the technological sector. TSAF will also make provision for initiatives relating to further landscape reform. Details of the fund and the call for proposals are available on the HEA website with the closing date for applications being 19 October. The HEA will conduct appraisal and notification processes in Q4 2023 with a view to grants being made in December with a formal commencement date of 1 January 2024. The TSAF will run until the end of June 2026. Eligible HEIs comprise the five Technological Universities along with Dundalk Institute of Technology and Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology. These HEIs may apply for a grant contribution towards the costs of maintaining and mainstreaming existing activities or to initiate new activities that are of strategic importance to the success of the institution. The fund will also make provision for initiatives relating to further landscape reform. In addition, eligible HEIs may also make a combined application in relation to funding at a sectoral level and such applications are being actively encouraged. Participation in such a sectoral application for funding does not preclude an institution from applying for institutional-level funding across categories including change management and integration, people and culture, data and systems, engagement, students and system coherence, reform and consolidation. It is important to note that the higher education and research system is successful by virtue of its diversity, within and across regions. Each eligible HEI is distinctive by nature of strategy, location, scale, mission and stage of development. TSAF funding will be allocated by the HEA in a managed fashion in response to requests under the call for funding proposals from eligible HEIs taking account of these factors and based on stated and evidenced institutional needs. To date within the context of limited public resources ATU has availed of Exchequer funding of just over €17 million for their TU project both in its pre- and post-establishment phases under the TUTF, constituting the second largest overall allocation provided across all TUs to date under this fund. Moreover, when account is taken of Exchequer funding provided to the project under the predecessor Higher Education Landscape Fund the total amount rises to almost €23 million.
