Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Conway for raising this issue. I apologise that the Minister for Education and Skills cannot be here as she has to attend other functions this evening.

At the outset, it is important to note that institutes of technology are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006. This means that the management of their academic affairs, including the selection and delivery of courses, are matters for individual institutions and not for the Department of Education and Skills.

All institutes of technology receive a block grant from the Higher Education Authority and it is a matter for each institution to determine how it is allocated internally, in line with defined needs and priorities. The Limerick Institute of Technology Ennis Learning Centre, formerly Ennis Regional Learning Centre, is a third-level outreach centre based in Ennis, County Clare.

The centre was founded in 2009 as a Shannon Consortium initiative. The Shannon Consortium is an education partnership between the University of Limerick, Limerick Institute of Technology, Mary Immaculate College and the Institute of Technology, Tralee. The centre was funded under the Strategic Innovation Fund Cycle 2 initiative which was administered by the Higher Education Authority. The aim was to provide flexible access to higher education for the people of County Clare. The higher certificate in business computing level 6 was delivered under this funding.

However, all funding for Strategic Innovation Fund stand-alone projects concluded at the end of 2011 and both the University of Limerick and Mary Immaculate College ceased their involvement at that time. In September 2011, the Ennis Learning Centre was taken over by Limerick Institute of Technology. The Institute is reviewing its involvement in Ennis in light of decreasing student numbers and high costs. For example LIT must rent the building and pay for a full-time administrator. LIT has reported that the intake to the higher certificate in business computing level 6 in 2014 was only 16 students. I understand from the Higher Education Authority that LIT will continue to provide support to the current cohort of students who will complete their two-year course in 2016. The higher certificate in business computing is offered by LIT as a CAO-listed programme on their main campus in Limerick.

More generally, it is important to say that the LIT provides a vital role in providing higher education on a regional basis, including to learners from Clare. LIT has over 2,000 students from Clare enrolled on various programmes on their Limerick campus. LIT works closely with the second-level system and with post-leaving certificate/education and training board schools throughout Clare to ensure their programmes meet their demand.

In addition, there are excellent student pathways for learners with diverse backgrounds and age profiles. Servicing the needs of students from Clare will continue to be a strategic priority for LIT at its main campus in Limerick.