Gabrielle McFadden (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Tá fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit ar ais go dtí an Teach. Some 65% of children who entered primary school this year will work in a type of job that does not currently exist. This poses challenges for the education system and the third level sector in particular needs to be able to adapt to meet these challenges. The Technological Universities Bill is an

important development in this regard, building on the excellent record of the institutes of technology and what they have contributed to Irish education and society since their inception.

The Bill allows for the incorporation of a number of existing institutes of technology into technological universities. Where these mergers make geographic and educational sense, they have the potential to offer significant benefits for the sector, for students, for their community and for the development of the regions in which they are located. Ten of the existing institutes are currently in the process of setting up such consortia and I wish them every success in that endeavour.

The fact that the remaining institutes of technology have not chosen to go down this road should not, however, be seen as a lack of ambition on their part. In my home town, for example, Athlone Institute of Technology, AIT, has provided a superlative service to the midlands and to education in Ireland, with over 5,400 students currently engaged in all levels of study there. Since its inception in 1970, it has adapted and changed to meet the needs of the region. Living up to its motto “Connect and Discover”, it uses feedback from students, industry and community, to constantly improve the range and relevance of the courses it offers. These efforts were recognised recently when it was named The Times institute of technology of the year, outstripping all other institutes of technology and rivalling some of the established universities.

On the type of criteria that are used to determine university status, Athlone Institute of Technology is one of the leaders in terms of these metrics. Whether it is the percentage of staff with a PhD, the level of research activity or the diversity of the student population, AIT can match the best. The fact that AIT did not take part in any of the consortia was not a sign of insufficient standard or lack of ambition or preparation, rather, it indicates a brave and nuanced analysis of the situation. If the regional or geographical realities do not make sense or if there is not an educational synergy, going down the road of amalgamation just for the sake of fitting in to the policy of the day is the wrong decision to make. I support the institute in its approach.

In terms of future development options for these colleges, it is not sufficient to say that their only option is to join up with one of the new technological universities at some stage down the road. If an amalgamation does not make sense today, it may not make sense in five or ten years’ time either.We must also consider allowing them to build alliances with one of the traditional universities or to grow and develop appropriately in their own right.

In areas where the use of consortia makes sense, I wish them every success. However, I would ask the Minister of State to ensure that the passing of this Bill does not become a stalling point in the development of the third-level sector. For Athlone Institute of Technology and those other institutes where an amalgamation was not the sensible option, I call on the Minister of State and the Department to proactively engage with them to seek a suitable strategy for their future development so that they can continue to be important drivers for better educational, social and economic outcomes.