Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have just come from a presentation by the National College of Ireland, NCI, which the Leader may be aware does tremendous work in Dublin's inner city and at national level through a wide range of programmes, particularly in promoting access to higher education. Since its move to the north east inner city, the NCI has done tremendous work around building an educational community in that part of Dublin. There is a need to expand. Unlike a lot of other higher education institutions the National College of Ireland's location is pretty land-locked but it was able to purchase another building in Spencer Dock. However, it requires a significant level of capital investment by the State. The NCI has been in the process. It receives some support through the Higher Education Authority. It needs to become a fully designated institution under the Higher Education Authority Act 2022 but it does not receive the same level as other higher education institutions. I request a debate on access to higher education but in particular that we ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy O'Donovan, to consider a significant capital investment to allow for the expansion of services by the National College of Ireland.