James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the Deputy's ongoing advocacy for all things Dundalk, and, indeed, for Louth. We have discussed her interest in this matter previously, most recently when I attended the opening of the new FET centre in Dundalk, which involved a very significant Government commitment of almost €30 million in the education space for the region. I was delighted to open the centre, along with Deputy McGreehan and other colleagues.

I am familiar with Dundalk Institute of Technology. I had the opportunity very recently to meet its president, albeit informally. I will be meeting him more formally and visiting the college in the near future. It is a critical institution both for the region and nationally. As with all higher education institutions, its positioning within the overall higher education landscape is a matter for its governing body in the first instance, within the context of national policy and the relevant legislation. My Department and the HEA have engaged, and continue to engage, with DkIT. Support continues to be provided in the context of the overarching national strategy on higher education landscape restructuring.

Most recently, DkIT was allocated €3.85 million through the technological sector advancement fund. The institution's strategic plan for the period 2024 to 2028 sets out an ambition to achieve university status through the development of a strategic collaborative partnership with an existing university. I am aware and very much supportive of the fact that DkIT signed a formal agreement with Maynooth University in January 2024 setting out the intention of both institutions to explore joint strategic engagement on future collaborations over the coming years. Without wishing to predict or set out the path they may follow, that collaboration, which I expect will deepen, is welcome. The collaboration with Maynooth University provides a pathway into the future for DkIT. I am very supportive of that, as is the HEA. I will have the opportunity in the near future to visit the college more formally. I will continue to engage on the matter.

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