Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Pringle for raising these issues on a regular basis in terms of how we can try to get that education cluster in the north west going. Deputy Pringle may be aware that I spoke at the launch of the North West Tertiary Education Cluster last October. That was an opportunity to meet with and thank the leadership of Atlantic Technological University of Donegal, Donegal ETB, the University of Ulster and the North West Regional College, which are the main partners. This cluster builds on what is already a strong history of further and higher education collaboration in the region. It has already led to progression paths, including cross-Border paths for learners in the north west. They have not been waiting around. They have actually got on with it already. They have a number of pathways in place and I commend them on that. We have now recently established a National Tertiary Office within the Higher Education Authority, HEA, and SOLAS, which is important because it provides the ability to move from further and higher education and not have them sided away. It is an office that spans both higher education and SOLAS as well. They are charged with looking at how we can develop new further and higher education degree programmes. I have no doubt from my contact with it that the National Tertiary Office will welcome any proposals from the North West Tertiary Education Cluster. Given the track record of co-operation already in the north west, I have no doubt that this region will be well placed to demonstrate the benefits to learners of enhanced collaboration.

We have set aside an additional €2 million in the current year in ongoing funding to underpin the work of the National Tertiary Office. There are very specific opportunities in the context of North-South relationships to build on tertiary education and research strengths in the north west. We suggest that cluster should come forth with proposals to try to draw down from that funding. I am happy on foot of this question to meet and try to fully support them in any way that I can.

I should also say that we have specific commitments as a Government to the New Decade, New Approach. In conjunction with the shared island initiative, my Department is exploring actively opportunities with both the University of Ulster, specifically the McGee Campus, and ATU in Letterkenny, to see if there is a possibility there of trying to advance the very clear commitments that both Governments gave in New Decade, New Approach, to do more in the education space.

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