I propose to take Questions Nos. 403 and 404 together.
The development and progression of technological universities (TUs) is an established policy objective of Government in the context of overarching national strategy on higher education landscape restructuring and this is underscored in the commitment in the current Programme for Government.
Under the statutory framework provided in the Technological Universities Act 2018, two or more Institutes of Technology (IoTs) may jointly seek TU designation through a prescribed legislative process. Section 29 of the 2018 Act provides for the application jointly by two or more applicant institutes to the Minister of Education and Skills for an order seeking designation as a TU subject to their jointly meeting specified eligibility criteria. Section 38 of the 2018 Act provides that an applicant institute and an established technological university may apply to the Minister for an order.
Government has assisted a number of IoT consortia to develop proposals for TU designation in terms both of providing financial assistance and, as appropriate, calling on the expert advice of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in the framing and developing of relevant TU oriented proposals.
Since 2013 some €120 million in Exchequer co-funding will have been allocated to such consortia and emerging TUs, of which €90 million is ring-fenced under a TU Transformation Fund with the first tranche of €34.33 m in allocations being made last October.
Under the 2020 Transformation Fund IADT Dun Laoghaire was allocated €100,000 to explore how it might pursue a trajectory to achieve TU designation in accordance with the provision of the 2018 Act. Further details of the allocation are attached in Appendix 1.
Dundalk Institute of Technology is in a similar position to that of IADT and that institution, too, is being assisted by the HEA under the Transformation Fund to explore how TU designation can be achieved.
The administration of the Transformation Fund is a matter for the HEA with annual allocations and planned activities in the period to 2023 being overseen by the Authority.
It is a matter for the governing body of a Higher Education Institution such as IADT Dun Laoghaire to decide on the strategic direction and positioning of the institution within the higher education landscape and to pursue a relevant direction of travel accordingly, including for TU designation as appropriate.
My Department understands that IADT Dun Laoghaire is in discussions with the HEA in relation to 2021 allocations and proposals under the Transformation Fund.
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