Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2019
180. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the establishment of a new department of higher education and research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41631/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no plans to establish a new department of higher education and research.
The importance of the higher education system in the wider education sector, and the economy as a whole, has been underlined through the existence of a dedicated Minister of State for Higher Education who has overseen a significant programme of reform to safeguard and enhance the higher education system in Ireland.
This includes, but is not limited to delivery of the System Performance Framework for Higher Education 2018-2020; the Technological Universities Act, 2018 which enabled the establishment of the first Technological University in January 2019; the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Amendment) Act, 2019 which is designed to safeguard the integrity of the National Framework of Qualifications and the reputation of higher and further education and training in Ireland. This Act will also improve standards in the international education sector in Ireland.
In addition, the Senior Academic Leadership Initiative has been launched which will introduce an additional 45 senior academic leadership posts over the coming years to assist in accelerating gender balance at senior levels. The preparation of new legislation to reflect the current higher education and higher education research system in Ireland and Government policy for the sector is also under way, with additional stakeholder consultation due in the near future.
Most recently, and building on progress in previous budgets, Budget 2020 provided for a €153 million increase in funding for Tertiary Education. Including a multi-annual programme of €90 million for Technological Universities and a new initiative to promote Research Excellence. This brings total spend on the HE sector to €1.88bn, the highest level to date of spend on higher education in a single year and delivering an increase of 25% over the past four years.
