Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
1844. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the President of TU Dublin sought approval from the governing body for the proposed organisation design and were the consultants’ costings showing an increase in salary costs of approximately €10 million shared with the governing body members in advance of a decision to approve or not approve. [57255/23]
View answerHigher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Technological Universities Act 2018 and the Institutions of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006. Under this legislation the institutions are charged with regulating their own academic affairs and administrative processes. The Higher Education Authority Act 2022 sets out the oversight role of the HEA, and the relevant measures which can be taken by the Authority in exercise of its responsibilities.
Under section 11 of the Technological Universities Act 2018, it is the Governing Body's responsibility to satisfy itself that the appropriate systems, procedures and practices are in place for the internal performance management and accountability of the technological university. The Governing Body's role includes the following functions, namely to:
• review and oversee the implementation of major plans of action and provide strategic direction;• delegate such functions as may be appropriate to the president;• manage the financial affairs of the technological university to ensure value for money and its financial viability;
Operational matters, such as those raised, are for individual institutions to address in the first instance, in line with their statutory autonomy and having regard to appropriate institutional and public sector procedures. I have asked that your query is brought to the attention of the TU Dublin Governing Body and for them to respond to the Deputy directly.
