Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Earlier in this debate and on Second Stage, I flagged my concern regarding the eligibility criteria, which we all agree are fundamental to the legislation and to any institution of education. The criteria relate to the composition of the student body, academic staff and PhD and research activity, as well as the ability of an institution to perform in terms of governance, quality assurance and collaboration with regional stakeholders. I share the concerns of colleagues, which are outlined in Senator Grace O'Sullivan's amendment. I have been around long enough to remember the upgrading of regional technical colleges, RTCs, to institutes of technology in the 1980s and 1990s. I make no apologies for being parochial because at the time Waterford RTC had advanced to a stage where it was one of the leading institutes at the time and there was a recognition that it should, on merit, be elevated to institute of technology status. However, many of the other RTCs were upgraded at the same time and this lessened the elevated standard that Waterford RTC had achieved on merit.

I am concerned that something similar is happening again. In 2012, the Hunt report set out criteria that have since been amended. The criteria rightly set a high bar for any institute of technology to achieve the status of technological university. We often read about the ranking of Irish universities globally and sometimes concerns are expressed that they are slipping down the rankings. To have substance behind various degree courses, we need to have confidence in the institutes issuing them. Are we just responding to the demands of the time to have all institutes of technology upgraded to technological universities? They should only be elevated on merit. I do not say that to be disrespectful to any institute of technology. According to HEA data, DIT is streets ahead with 448 level 10 PhD students. The next highest is WIT with 148, while CIT has 116; IT Sligo, 35; GMIT, 26; and Carlow IT, 9. These figures demonstrate where strong research is being done in colleges. DIT is progressing strongly towards university status. However, WIT is next and that is why the argument has been made for years that it merits university status. While I am supportive of the legislation, I share the concerns regarding standards in the context of the eligibility criteria. Why have the criteria been amended from those set out in the original plan in 2012? Six years later, they have been diluted. If institutes of technology merge and go through the process, all of them will achieve technological university status. If I am wrong, I will stand corrected. This again suggests that we are just responding to a political demand or lobby to the effect that all institutes of technology should be elevated.However, that takes away from the merit of, and the work that has been put in by, institutes that have expanded their courses and student bases and that have elevated all of their academic staff by supporting them to achieve higher levels of lecturing. I am concerned about this and I hope the Minister of State can address this concern. We do not want a name change or for every institution to be granted university status just because they achieve what I believe to be a reduced standard. We need a robust threshold so that we can have confidence in the level of achievement. I hope that the Minister of State can respond to my concerns in this regard.

The proposers of the amendments have made their arguments very well. Senator Norris and others have said that there is a place for technical colleges, for institutes of technology and for technological universities. They need to be clearly differentiated however. They need to be differentiated by quality of education, by the number of PhDs and by the research carried out in those institutes. We cannot have them all on the same pitch if they do not have the same levels of achievement. I am voicing my concern in that regard to the Minister of State.