Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for tabling this important debate today about Dundalk IT and crucially about ensuring we have a technological university for the north east of the country. I also thank the Senator for keeping this item on the political agenda and for all the engagement and discussions we have had on it. Let me be really clear. The north east is not going to be left behind. The Government, my Department and I are absolutely committed to ensuring that the north east has a technological university or is part of a technological university. The north east needs a technological university for a whole load of reasons, including access to university status within the region. It also needs one in terms of balanced regional development and ensuring people can invest in the region. From an investment point of view, a rural Ireland and regional development point of view, a Border point of view and an educational point of view, this needs to happen.

We all know the reason it has not happened to date. We are not going to get into that today other than to note it is a statement of fact that no Minister has an ability to create a technological university without an application being submitted, and rightly so. I will be extraordinarily happy to receive an application in respect of DkIT becoming part of the technological universities. I fully recognise and value the very important contribution of Dundalk Institute of Technology. I want to thank everybody in DkIT for what they are doing. It is continuing to make a very significant and positive impact in the north east, in Dundalk and Louth and throughout the region. In order to achieve further progress, I remain strongly committed to enabling the institute's participation within a multi-campus technological university. It is now, as the Senator said, one of only two institutes of technology not part of a technological university and not in the process of development of becoming one.

If we had been having this discussion a couple of months ago, we would be in a very different place. I am pleased to say we are in a position to report significant progress. Dundalk IT has published its vision earlier this year, which states that it wants to become a dynamic, accessible, student-centred campus within a multi-campus regional TU. A stand-alone university is not its vision, nor is it legally possible. This is its vision. Every politician and stakeholder in Dundalk needs to get on board with this. Dundalk IT, the staff, students, governing body and management team, have come together and put out this vision for what they want. This, in and of itself, marks meaningful progress on the proposed trajectory towards achieving TU status.

I am delighted to say also that the elaboration of this vision provides certainty and should enable staff, students and wider stakeholders to be assured of the direction of travel of their organisation. The debate over what will happen and where we want DkIT to go is kind of over. Once that strategic vision of all stakeholders in DkIT was published, we had that certainty.

I am pleased to report that the institute has put in place a structure to drive on this project. There is a project team, a steering group and a lot of really good work going on. I am also very pleased to say that we are now providing Exchequer funding. Even though it is not yet a TU, we are providing funding through the technological university transformation fund. We are putting our money where our mouth is in terms of advancing this agenda. That fund is administered by the Higher Education Authority.

In addition to the funding, we have now provided a dedicated special expert adviser to DkIT to drive this project. This has been key to delivering technological universities in my experience. I thank Dr. Ruaidhrí Neavyn for the work he is doing providing technical knowledge and advice to the institute. I understand as recently as yesterday that this work is going well. Funding is in place. An expert adviser is in place. A shared vision is in place.Let us visit DkIT, and let us also meet stakeholders more broadly in the economic and societal set-up of the north east. We are going to get there, but we need those in the region to prepare by determining how they can harness what could be a real powerhouse for growth and education.