Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge that this is an issue that Deputy Pringle raised with me on a regular basis and that the Killybegs campus is important to him and his community. I expect to be in a position to establish very shortly a regional campus support fund. There are a number of campuses that the Deputy and I believe are integral to regional and local access to third-level institutions. I would consider Killybegs to be very much in that category. To be frank, sometimes they can cost a bit more to run but there is a public good in them continuing to be there and we want to do that. We have been doing it but we have been doing it in an ad hocmanner in terms of sustainability. It would be better to get to a place where we just knew there was an annual regional campus support fund that certain institutions could draw down from and almost be guaranteed funding from. I expect to be in a position to make an announcement on that in the next couple of weeks. Without pre-empting it, I would be surprised if Killybegs is not in a position to benefit.

ATU Killybegs campus plays an important part in delivering on ATU's educational and innovation mission in Donegal and the region. It has played a particularly critical role in providing skills for the tourism sector and I understand from an update from ATU that there are plans to develop its contribution to the food science discipline within ATU.

The campus also plays a critical role in the wider economic development of Killybegs and its wider region. This is the core of the mission of technological universities in general. The Enterprise Ireland-funded Killybegs marine cluster has made significant progress since its establishment two years ago. There is significant potential for the cluster to further support the development of these marine industries with particular opportunities in the emerging wind and hydrogen sectors off the north-west coast of Ireland. ATU sees this as an area of major potential in the years ahead and one that will engage the entire university's capacities across education and training, research and enterprise development. The campus in Killybegs is regarded by ATU and my Department as a significant enabler to achieve this in partnership with local industry, Enterprise Ireland, the Western Development Commission and other stakeholders.

I am also aware that ATU is working closely with a range of partners to contribute to the development of Killybegs town and harbour. A key area of engagement is the Ocean Innovation Centre and I know that the university is working with Donegal County Council on plans for the refurbishment of Island House, which will become a digital hub and tourist office.

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