David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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93. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the further development of the technological universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51634/22]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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This question has to do with the fantastic development of technological universities. It is an innovative and far-seeing initiative from the Government. What plans has the Minister for the further development of technological universities?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I agree that the technological universities have the potential to enhance progress in the delivery of national and regional priorities significantly, bringing higher education into the regions while creating institutions that are mandated by law to interact with local business and local industry on the development of courses. They also place an emphasis on matters like inclusion, access and serving the needs of their local populations. Their potential includes access to higher education, research-informed teaching and learning, research capacity building, increased support for enterprise and skills development, and enhancement of socioeconomic progress and regional development.

I am proud to say that we have successfully established a network of five technological universities across 25 campuses, including a university presence in the south east for the first time. We also have the Munster Technological University in the Deputy's own region. I was delighted to be there recently and will be there again next month.

The focus of the pivotal post-establishment technological university, TU, phase is now on enabling these new universities to deliver on their functions and specific regional missions. This is important. Even in a country the geographic size of Ireland, the needs of regions differ and all five TUs need not look exactly the same. They need to be empowered to develop to suit their respective regions. My Department and the Higher Education Authority will be supporting the TUs to achieve the transformation necessary to deliver on these goals.

The higher education public private partnership programme has a specific focus on enhancing infrastructure in the TU sector, which is badly needed. A number of projects are planned to enter construction next year. An ambitious new phase of capital development is also being advanced through the technological sector strategic projects fund. I expect to be in a position to announce a number of capital projects from that fund in the coming weeks. Work is also taking place on related agendas, including physical and digital infrastructure and borrowing frameworks, particularly so that TUs can build student accommodation.

Work on an OECD review of the academic contract career structures and leadership in TUs is also approaching completion and I hope to report to the Government later this year in this regard. We are extremely committed to helping them on the next stage of their journey.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for that response. Would he agree with me that there is a different energy and focus in respect of the technological universities versus the traditional universities? I am not saying there is not also a focus and energy in those institutions because there is. There is, however, a differentiation in this regard between the two types of institution. Will the Minister outline what this differentiation is? Is he working to ensure it persists? In other words, is he working to ensure we will not have the technological universities morphing into a traditional type of university? The technological universities are separate and have a different type of energy. Will the Minister comment on, for example, the National Maritime College of Ireland, NMCI, which is close to my constituency? I refer to the great potential there to develop the skill sets required in the offshore wind energy sector etc. This college is part of the MTU. As the Minister also said in his earlier response, this college is also different in its own way and deserves focus and support because, as Deputy Matthews said earlier, we need to develop the skill sets required in the offshore wind energy sector. This is an exciting development but without institutions like the NMCI retaining their current focus and getting the support to do so, then we could slip in this regard.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I agree with that and I look forward to visiting the National Maritime College of Ireland later this year with Deputy Stanton and exploring how we can work together to offer support. I thank him for keeping in touch with me regarding this subject. When we talk about the technological universities, I very much believe they are equal to but distinct from the traditional universities. This is important; they are equal and there is parity of esteem. They are universities and it is possible to get any one of the whole spectrum of university qualifications right up to a PhD. These institutions do, however, have a distinctive mission. This is not just my view, a mission that was legally sanctioned by inclusion in the Technological Universities Act 2018. It is important that people remain true to this objective, and I believe they will. This means engaging with industry, for example, providing for local skills needs and access and inclusion in respect of how programmes are delivered.

I do wish to see work done on the career structures. There will be great opportunities if we can get new academic contracts agreed through the OECD process and subsequent engagement. I also refer to making these institutions more research intensive, improving their capital resources and ensuring they have access to the borrowing framework, particularly for student accommodation. These are some of our next priorities in the sector.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Many other countries were ahead of us in developing technological universities. The Minister has now caught us up in this regard, which is fantastic. Will the Minister tell me whether links are being developed between our technological universities and similar research institutions abroad in order that they can learn from best practice, learn from each other and build on the work they are doing? Taking the really exciting example of blockchain technology, are developments in this area being explored in the technological universities and so on?

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Technological university status is the only show in town and in this context, I raise the issue of Dundalk Institute of Technology, DkIT, where Dr. Bob McKiernan is in place as interim president. We realise there will be change regarding this post. It must be ensured that DkIT is facilitated to make this necessary journey to TU status. I discussed this with the Minister, particularly when he was at the institute to open the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board, LMETB, centre of excellence in Drogheda for apprenticeships. Visits like that will always be welcome. I also will be following up on the necessary issue of personal assistants, PAs, because this needs to be dealt with in the third level sector.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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Can the Minister tell me if there is any reason students from the technological universities would be told the amount that could be allocated to the student assistance fund will be halved this year? I ask the Minister to look into this matter and give me some information regarding how the distribution of the student assistance fund is undertaken so we can ensure there is fairness in this regard.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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This should not be the case. I will look into this issue and revert to the Deputy with the figures. We have topped up, for want of a better phrase, the student assistance fund in recent weeks with the €8 million announced. I will respond directly to her regarding this matter.

Turning to Deputy Stanton's contribution, I am eager that the technological universities collaborate internationally, and the area of blockchain technology is an interesting one. I will get a note for the Deputy regarding where these collaborations are now happening.

It is hard to believe that event in Drogheda referred to by Deputy Ó Murchú happened only yesterday. It was a good announcement in the north east. I know how important technological university status is. The Deputy does not need me to give him the rehearsed lines in this regard. The application needs to come from the university. As we discussed yesterday, however, I will be happy to facilitate a meeting of all Oireachtas Members from Louth and the wider region, together with representatives of the university management and governing authority.

I also intend to honour my commitment to meet with people around PA working conditions and these types of issues that the Deputy and I discussed during one of my many recent visits to the Louth.