Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the Adjournment. The process for designation of an educational institution as a university is prescribed by the Universities Act 1997. Section 9 of the Act provides that the Government may appoint a body which will include national and international experts to advise the Higher Education Authority on whether, having regard to the objects and functions of a university, an educational institution should be established as a university. On the advice of the body and the recommendation of the authority, the Government may, by order, provide that the institution shall be a university for the purposes of the Act.

To date applications have been received to invoke section 9 of the Universities Act, 1997 from Waterford Institute of Technology, Dublin Institute of Technology and Cork Institute of Technology. The Department of Education and Science has not received an application from Institute of Technology Tralee for designation as a university. Applications for designation as a university require a detailed examination in the context not only of the statutory process to which they are subject but also their wider implications for higher education policy generally.

In 2004 the Government commissioned a comprehensive review of the higher education system. The OECD considered that for a country with a population of just over 4 million, Ireland had a significant number of higher education institutions and that the differentiation of mission within the sector had been a significant contributory factor to economic growth. It recommended that such differentiation be preserved and that there should be no further institutional transfers into the university sector. It identified an enormously important role for the institutes of technology in regional development and in respect of a broad range of qualifications and applied research, while the university sector should be expected to carry the major research role, especially in fundamental and basic research. It also recommended better co-ordination of policy towards the sectors by bringing them together under a common authority with machinery to prevent mission drift in either direction but with a loosening of controls on the institutes.

The broad thrust of the OECD recommendations were accepted by the Government in 2005 and reflected in the Institutes of Technology Act 2006 which addresses significant elements of these recommendations and marks a major milestone for the sector and the development of higher education. Its commencement last year provides for the creation of a unified management structure framework for higher education by bringing the institutes of technology sector under the remit of the Higher Education Authority.

The legislation also extends significant new managerial and academic autonomy to the institutes, aimed at facilitating further development of their roles. For example, institutes will have the right and responsibility to preserve and promote the traditional principles of academic freedom in the conduct of their internal and external affairs. The budgets of individual institutes will now be set by the HEA rather than by the Department and specific approval to run individual courses or programmes will no longer be required. The institutes will also be able to borrow funds under a framework agreed with the HEA and the Departments of Finance and Education and Science. It has also been accepted that income generated by third level institutions from external sources should not be subject to offsetting in the allocation of Exchequer funding.

Since 1997, the profile of institutes of technology has changed considerably. They now provide a much higher proportion of degree courses. Whereas in 1997 only the DIT had degree awarding powers, now all institutes have delegated authority from HETAC to award degrees, some up to doctoral level.

The Department of Education and Science and the HEA are already working on ways in which the specific research capacity of the institutes can be enhanced through the dedicated funding stream of the technology sector research programme. The need to strengthen the overall research capability of the institutes of technology, while ensuring coherence is maintained within the higher education system, is also acknowledged. Measures such as the technological sector research programme have been put in place specifically to assist them in developing this capacity. Some €7 million is earmarked for this year. It is expected that this funding will be increased incrementally under the strategy for science, technology and innovation. Institutes also benefit from funding from Enterprise Ireland, for example, for incubation centres and technology transfer offices.

The Institute of Technology Tralee has gained a reputation as a centre of distinction for teaching, learning and research. It has a practical orientation designed to be responsive to the needs of the local industry and business. In particular, it has fostered very close links with the companies based in Kerry Technology Park. The Government is committed to supporting the institute into the future in continuing to make a significant contribution to the economic, social and cultural development of the south west and beyond. The Government wants to build on our strengths and provide an environment where all our higher education institutions can develop in a way that best serves the country as a whole and the regions where they are based. These issues must be central to consideration of any application for designation as a university.

I thank the Deputy for affording me the opportunity to respond to the House on this matter.

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