New Technological Universities Bill should provide for input from local authority reps: Education Committee Report

17 April 2014

The , published this afternoon by Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection, also calls for the composition of the academic council of a Technical University to be tailored to facilitate skills development for the labour force at regional and national level

Other recommendations include that:

• A phased replacement of governing bodies be considered to avoid disruption and loss of corporate memory in the formation of TUs;
• Student representatives on a governing body be drawn from a student union if one is in place;
• The concerns of trade unions in relation to terms and conditions of staff in TUs be addressed, and
• The designation process for a new TU be made as transparent as possible.  

Joanna Tuffy TD, Chair of the Committee says: “The purpose of the Technical University Bill is to consolidate the Institutes of Technology and provide for the establishment of new Technological Universities with a specific mandate to provide education and research that is high-quality and industry-focused. Yesterday, the Committee hosted detailed hearings with key stakeholders, which highlighted the opportunities presented by the proposed legislation, as well as some of the challenges in transforming this hugely significant component of our third level system.

“This formal pre-legislative scrutiny process has resulted in what we believe is a balanced report, incorporating the views of a wide range of the stakeholders. The report calls for greater input from local representatives and students’ unions in the governing body of any new TU. It also calls for the application process for TU status be made as transparent as possible.”

A copy of the report has been forwarded to the Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn TD, to assist in finalising his legislative proposals in relation to this issue. The report will also inform Committee stage consideration of the Bill when it is presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas later in the year.

Access report:

Media enquiries to:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926

Committee Membership
Deputy Joanna Tuffy - Chair
Deputies James Bannon, Ray Butler, Joan Collins, Clare Daly, Brendan Griffin , Jim Daly, Derek Keating, Charlie McConalogue, Jonathan O’Brien, Willie O’Dea, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Brendan Ryan
Senators Jim D'Arcy, Marie Moloney, Mary Moran, Hildegarde Naughten, Marie-Louise O’Donnell, Averil Power