Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have listened carefully to the Senator and, if she does not mind, would like her to look at the Bill. Section 9 is approximately three pages long. In subsection (4) there is a clause on promoting an entrepreneurial ethos. Section 9(1)(c) provides that it will be a function of the technological university to "provide for the broad education, intellectual and personal development of students, for the purpose of enabling them, as graduates, to excel in their chosen careers and to contribute responsibly to social, civil and economic life in innovative and adaptable ways". Section 9(1)(k) provides that a technological university will "serve the community and public interest" by "developing ... strong social and cultural links, and links supporting creativity, between the technological university and the community in the region in which the campuses of the technological university are located".

There are other provisions included in the Bill which speak to innovation, the humanities, creativity, local interests and the development of the student. Section 9(1)(g) provides that one of the functions of a technological university shall be to "support entrepreneurship, enterprise development and innovation in business, enterprise and the professions through teaching and the conduct of research and through effective transfer to those and other sectors of knowledge arising from that research".

The word "creativity" is contained in the Bill. The Senator referred to one small clause, but all of this is referred to in the Bill. Section 18(2)(e) refers to "the plans of the technological university to develop and promote strong social and cultural links, and links supporting creativity, between the technological university and the community in the region in which the campuses of the technological university are located". I said on the last occasion that I had had the huge pleasure of visiting the institutes of technology and seeing creativity out the door. I have seen innovation, the humanities, the wonderful nursing schools, child care facilities and the teaching of fantastic subjects in the institutes of technology, to which I pay tribute for what is ongoing.

Senator Paudie Coffey spoke about the need to ensure there would be money behind the formation of technological universities. With hand on my heart, I say that in budget 2018 we showed that intent and money was put on the table. There was €200 million for a PPP for the 11 institutes of technology throughout the country. Since 2016 an additional €100 million has been put into third level education and third level institutes. I will be fighting hard on that front. A budget has also been put in place for the development of technological universities. Some of the institutes are further along the line and we will help them, budget-wise, as they come through. As a Minister of State, I assure the Senator that there will be money and resources available to help the institutes join in the consortia and become technological universities.

I want the House to see that a reference to creativity is included in the Bill. Members will have heard of STEM subjects, but I am a Minister of State who shouts for STEAM, with the arts at the heart of STEM. We need innovation and creativity, within which research falls. I, therefore, ask Members to accept what we are doing but not to accept it in good faith as it is written into the Bill.