Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I am sure the Minister is very well aware of the media attention on the proposed Munster technological university in recent days. Today, the Teachers' Union of Ireland lodged a dispute with the Labour Relations Commission. I do not know whether that affects what can be said on the matter. The press releases from the TUI in recent days outline some of the concerns it has raised. It is fair to say there are considerable challenges ahead if the proposed merger is to take place.

The TUI has expressed some concerns about the proposed benefits of a merger. It has laid the blame clearly at the door of the Department of Education and Skills. There is a requirement for the merger to take place before any designation of technological university status is given. The TUI has said a number of issues arise relating to the policy approach and the criteria. I will ask the Minister in more detail in the supplementary question about some of the criteria, which to be frank, are very restrictive in terms of the number of staff that must hold a PhD qualification, the number of staff who must hold a level 9 qualification and the fact that Cork IT and Tralee IT will not meet the criteria. With any proposed merger I expect there will be a reduction in teaching staff numbers and in course provision. They are issues on which concern has been expressed by the TUI. There is much concern about the proposed merger and whether it is viable any longer. I hope the Minister can provide clarity on the matter.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for allowing me to raise this issue along with Deputy Jonathan O’Brien.There is a significant risk of industrial action over concerns about the proposed merger of the institutes of technology in Cork and Tralee for a technological university application. Deputy Jonathan O’Brien outlined that the TUI has lodged a complaint. Academic staff in both of the colleges have made it clear that they have no confidence in the process at any level, which is a worrying state of affairs. Neither are they convinced by the report published last year by a panel of international experts. Furthermore, they are not impressed by the Government's financial commitment. They are underwhelmed by the lack of engagement and consultation. In contacts I and my colleagues have had with the TUI and others and from reading media reports, it is evident that there is widespread concern. There is also concern that change will result in a reduction in the number of courses being provided in both institutes. That is an important issue as a wide variety of courses are on offer at present. We have always championed the availability of the proper courses.

The Government has a poor record of engaging with staff when advancing reforms in the education sector. The debacle over the junior cycle provides ample evidence of that. The prospect of industrial action looms once again. The staff are concerned that any merged entity may be refused technological university designation by the Higher Education Authority and remain as a merged entity indefinitely without gaining any of the envisaged benefits of technological university status. Does the Minister accept the contention that "the process adopted to date has ignored the expertise and experience of TUI lecturers and has failed to examine, in sufficient detail, the risks to which both institutes will be exposed as a consequence of a merger"? Will she ensure that any attempt to expedite this merger will be halted until such time as the participants have confidence in the process?

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I thank both Deputies. The objectives of the technological sector reform are to raise standards, to deliver better quality outcomes for students and for other stakeholders in the region and to enhance the performance of institutes of technology. This should be the case whether they are seeking technological university status or remaining as stand-alone institutes.

As part of the development of regional clusters in higher education we have also prioritised the development of more effective collaborations between all of the institutions in a cluster. Two priorities that have been set for each cluster are better student pathways between the institutions and co-ordinated academic planning to reduce duplication and improve quality of programmes. That work is ongoing.

In relation to the technological university designation process, as the Deputies will be aware, detailed plans were submitted to the HEA early last year by two consortia of institutes of technology as part of the process towards designation as a technological university. Cork and Tralee institutes of technology put forward proposals for a merger in Munster leading to an application for a technological university for the region. Dublin, Blanchardstown and Tallaght institutes of technology also propose to form a strong new institution for the city and county of Dublin. Both consortia have been assessed by an international expert panel appointed by the HEA. The panel has found that they are on a clear trajectory to meet the very robust performance and quality criteria that have been set down for merging institutes that wish to apply for the new technological university status. I stress the word “wish” because other regions did not apply whereas the institutes of technology in question decided to apply.

That concludes stage 3 of the four-stage process towards designation as a technological university for the two consortia. I know that the two consortia have been carefully considering the reports of the expert panel. Following merger, stage 4 consists of an application to the HEA to become a technological university. The HEA will consider whether the high performance bar has been reached following another independent international expert assessment. The HEA will then make a recommendation to me on whether technological university status should be awarded.

Both consortia have more work to do to complete their mergers, and to reach the criteria which have been set out by Government. In the initial stage of the process, institutions were asked to state how the transition from their current status to final designation would be financed. Both consortia acknowledge the costs involved in the merger and designation process, but they have also committed to meeting those costs from within their own budgets. For example, in Munster, while there is an upfront cost in meeting the criteria and implementing the project, the institutes have also shown that they expect to recoup the upfront costs in subsequent years. In the longer term, they anticipate that it will allow them to develop surpluses which will be available for investment in infrastructure in future years.

In addition, we are aware of the benefits that will arise for the institutions, students and the higher education system more generally from the reforms. As a result, the HEA has provided funding in 2014 to provide some support to institutions involved in mergers. That has included some additional funding to the Munster TU consortium, the Dublin TU consortium and for the amalgamation of teacher education colleges at DCU.

In terms of consultation, good communication between the leadership of any institute of technology entering into a merger and the staff and students of the higher education institution is extremely important in order that a shared vision and understanding of the new institution can be developed. That message has been conveyed by the HEA and by my Department from the outset. It is a message I have conveyed personally to those involved.

At national level, my predecessor published the general scheme of a technological universities Bill in January 2014. The scheme completed pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection. The engagement by a range of stakeholders in the pre-legislative scrutiny of the scheme was very welcome. A number of changes to the published general scheme will be made during the drafting process on foot of the recommendations of the joint committee. There has been engagement with stakeholders on this aspect of higher education reform and I would obviously welcome further engagement as the reform programme continues to roll out.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for her reply. However, she failed to deal with the crux of the issue, namely, the fact that the TUI has now lodged a dispute with the LRC. She also failed to address any of the concerns the TUI has raised about the process, for example, the fact that it has no confidence in any aspect of it. We now face a situation where the very people who are being asked to deliver technological university status have no confidence in the process. They envisage a situation whereby a merged entity could be created but that it might fail to meet the strict criteria. The criteria were discussed previously in the context of Waterford and Carlow institutes of technology and the problems caused in that regard. I refer to the criteria for the number of staff, their qualifications and whether they will be able to meet the high standard which has been set.

The crux of the issue is that we are asking institutions to merge with the prospect of becoming technological universities but with no guarantee that they will achieve that designation once they merge. As a result, institutions having merged may have reduced their courses or rationalised the number of teaching staff and may not get the benefits of being designated as technological university. This issue must be addressed.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for her reply. This is an issue of concern to staff. Everyone needs to be brought on board with regard to mergers. I respectfully ask the Minister as a matter of urgency to meet the TUI who represent the staff at both institutes and to hear their concerns. Nobody wants this matter to go to industrial relations. There needs to be face-to-face meetings. I have asked the Minister to meet the Higher Education Authority and the trade union in an effort to resolve the issue. The governing bodies of both institutes should meet the unions. The staff have no confidence in the process to date. Where there is such a level of disengagement or lack of faith in the process, then the issue is heading into very difficult waters.

I ask the Minister if she will meet the TUI to discuss the issues relating to the policy and the merger. I ask her to ensure that the Higher Education Authority meets with the TUI to discuss the issues and to ensure that the governing bodies of both institutes meet the TUI to thrash out the issues of concern.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Deputy O'Brien stated that a claim has been lodged with the Labour Relations Commission. Therefore, I must be careful as to my engagement with the matter. None of us is happy to hear that there are concerns. The criteria for the various stages of the process were always very clear from the start, such as the bar that had to be reached in order to move from one stage to the next. I do not think any of the institutions were in any doubt that this was the process. There has been wide consultation. The Higher Education Authority is dealing with the issue directly with the institutions and an outside body has set certain standards which must be achieved. The process is clear. My direct involvement may not be appropriate at this stage but I hope there will be engagement, in particular, by the two institutions in the Munster region.

With regard to the south east where there have been issues, I have appointed Michael Kelly to engage with all stakeholders, including those working in the institutions, those who run them, local interests and local public representatives. That process is under way in the south east. The issues in the south, in Munster, need to be addressed by way of consultation. It may not be appropriate at this stage for me to meet the trade union representing the staff.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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So no process is being put in place.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I will give it some thought as to what assistance the Department can give.