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Third Level Education

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2021

Thursday, 8 July 2021

Ceisteanna (59)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Ceist:

59. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the September 2021 reopening plans for third-level, further education, training and skills institutes and services; if the relevant institutions, staff, student and trainee representative bodies are involved in reopening plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36693/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In May 2021 my Department established a Working Group to achieve the Government commitment to planning for a significant increase in onsite attendance in the tertiary education sector in the next academic year.

The existing Covid-19 Tertiary Education Sector steering group, which contains representatives from across the further and higher education sector, was convened to act as a planning working group during the month of May. The result of that intensive collaboration was the finalisation of a comprehensive plan for returning with significant increases in onsite tertiary education in the autumn.

Following this period of consultation with sectoral stakeholders and with Government approval, I published A Safe Return: Plan for a safe return to on-site Further and Higher Education and Research in 2021/22.

The Plan reflects the essential nature of higher and further education and training, and research activities, and in that context provides for comprehensive on-site activity for the next academic year, with almost full scale on-site activities. Institutions and providers in the sector have committed to ensuring that all learners across all areas have significant scheduled on-site learning in the forthcoming year.

There is ongoing engagement and collaboration with the higher and further education sector via the Covid-19 Tertiary Education Sector steering group whose membership includes both sectoral and stakeholder representatives. There is also ongoing engagement via the stakeholder fora: the Partnership of Stakeholders in the Technological Sector (POSITS); and the Further Education Stakeholder Forum.

The partnership and collaboration demonstrated by all stakeholders, institutions and educational providers, their staff and representative bodies, students and learners has been instrumental in developing the plan for the safe return to onsite provision of higher and further education. The continuation and intensification of this approach will be central to its successful implementation.

I will provide an update on this planning to Cabinet in July and following that update, and any wider development with regard to public health, it is envisaged that institutions and providers will be in a position to communicate their plans for a return to on-site activity to students, learners and staff.

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