Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy O'Brien for the question. In regard to the technological university process, detailed plans were submitted to the Higher Education Authority, HEA, early last year by two consortiums of institutes of technology in Munster and in Dublin. Plans have been assessed by an international expert panel appointed by the HEA to be on a clear trajectory to meet the performance and quality criteria set down for the new status concluding stage 3 of the process. Following merger, stage 4 consists of an application to become a technological university submitted to the HEA which, following another independent assessment, will make a recommendation to the Minister on whether technological university status should be awarded.

In regard to the south east consortium, I have asked for a report on the proposed technological university for the south east, which I expect this quarter.

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