Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Further and Higher Education

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Ceisteanna (1241)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Ceist:

1241. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the process to bring about the full integration of a college (details supplied) into the higher education framework in the south-east region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39066/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I wish to reiterate that my key priority and that of my Department in terms of advancing higher education integration in the south-east region is the progression by the publicly funded Institutes of Technology that make up the TUSEI consortium of their proposals for a technological university to serve all parts of the region. In this context I appointed an expert advisory panel to assess the application that I received from the Institute of Technology Carlow and Waterford Institute of Technology seeking an order under the Technological Universities Act for the applicant institutes to be dissolved and the establishment of a technological university. The assessment process is currently underway.

Carlow College St. Patrick's is a private institution operating in the region but standing outside the publicly funded higher education system. The college is understood to be facing financial challenges and in this context provided a copy of an independent governance and financial review which it commissioned to my Department seeking any relevant views or advice in relation to the broader higher education landscape of, and integration potentiality within, the region.

Senior officials in the Department subsequently met with the college principals on 13 July to discuss the review following which further detailed information was sought and obtained from the College. This latest information is under consideration. I intend to meet with the college in September.

Barr
Roinn