Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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17. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has engaged with Dundalk Institute of Technology regarding the progression of the institute to university status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14626/25]

Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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My question concerns Dundalk Institute of Technology, DkIT, which is of huge importance for the entire north-east region, educationally, economically and socially. I am hugely ambitious for the institution. It is the only IT that is left without university status. Last June, DkIT and Maynooth University signed a letter of intent confirming there will be a joint strategic engagement on future collaborations over the coming years. This is a hugely significant and exciting departure for both education bodies. What is the Department doing to support it?

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I absolutely acknowledge the huge investment the Government has provided to the HEA for DkIT. It is a fantastic and hugely important institution. As this is a new departure from what the HEA legislation initially set out, namely, ITs collaborating together, I want to make sure there are no barriers to progress. When the ducks are being put in a row, if regulatory or legal change is needed to ensure the college's status for the future and in order that there will be no blockage from a legal or policy point of view that would prevent DkIT and Maynooth University from collaborating on university status for the former, that change must be made.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Regarding the policy framework, I do not foresee any blockage. However, there is a technical difficulty, which is why DkIT has not already been subsumed. The Technological Universities Act 2018 provided that two or more institutes of technology could jointly seek technological university designation through a process. At that time, a number of applications were invited. DkIT's governing body did not pursue that option at the time. We have to respect the autonomy of institutions and decisions made by their governing board.

The situation has now moved on. I understand a new governing board is in place at DkIT and there is a renewed engagement, which I welcome and support. There is great potential in the collaboration that is already progressing with Maynooth University. It makes sense for lots of reasons, including alignment of courses and programmes and geographical factors. The two institutions will very much complement each other. It is already showing itself to be a very productive engagement. Without wanting to commit, and respecting the autonomy of the institutions, I expect closer and more formal collaboration into the future.

Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his continuing support on this matter. I look forward to his coming to Dundalk again very soon and visiting DkIT. It was not about finding a fit with another institute of technology; it was about finding the right fit. Maynooth University is the right fit. The academic strengths of the two institutions complement each other. It is a win-win for both.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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As I said, I have had an informal meeting with the president of DkIT. I have studied the situation and am very familiar with it. DkIT is something of an outlier in that most of the ITs have been assimilated at this stage. The direction of travel is to have stronger collaborations in order to achieve a sum that is greater than the parts. That is already being done very successfully in many of the TUs around the country. DkIT is working away with Maynooth University and that collaboration is progressing well. The Deputy is very supportive, as am I, of all they are doing. I look forward to working together to progress that.