Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2020
297. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a further eligibility criteria sample process review report was prepared by auditors for the Munster Technological University consortium after 28 May 2019 (details supplied); if so, if he will make the report available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40882/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra298. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if Cork Institute of Technology’s Department of Construction, Centre of Craft Studies, Department of Fine Art, at CIT Crawford College of Art and Design and CIT Cork School of Music were included in the computation of the eligibility criteria set out in section 28 of the Technological Universities Act 2018; and if on foot of his moving of the section 36 order these divisions will be entitled to use the name Munster Technological University. [40883/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 298 together.
The application for TU designation under the Technological Universities Act 2018 by the MTU TU development consortium, comprising Cork Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Tralee, on 12 February 2019 was subject to a comprehensive assessment process including an advisory panel review and the views of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland (QQI) to inform the Minister’s decision on the application.
The HEA commissioned an independent external assessment of the mainly quantitative eligibility criteria required under the relevant provisions of the 2018 Act. The assessment encompassed the entirety of both Institutes’ staff, students and appropriate provision. The assessment report dated 28 May 2019 is available on the HEA website at:
https://hea.ie/assets/uploads/2017/04/8.-MTU-Deloitte-Report-for-publication.pdf.
In reviewing the Institutes’ joint compliance with conditions subsequently set under sections 35(1) and 35(2) of the 2018 Act by the Minister on 30 September 2019 before making his final decision on the application, the HEA engaged an advisory panel to provide a third party independent review though this is not required under the Act. In addition, in order to ensure no obvious bias occurred and relevant criteria were applied, the HEA engaged a process auditor. The views of the advisory panel, HEA, QQI and the process auditor were provided to the Minister to inform his final decision-making on the consortium’s application under the 2018 Act.
In this context and given the specific conditions set by the Minister in September 2019 the independent external assessment of eligibility criteria of May 2019 was deemed sufficient and no further assessment was sought.
The establishment of Munster Technological University on 1 January 2021 following the approval by both Houses of the Oireachtas on 25 November 2002 of the draft order required under section 36 of the 2018 Act and its signing into law by the Minister in due course will simultaneously dissolve both Institutes of Technology and establish the technological university title across the entirety of the new higher education institution’s provision, irrespective of location.
