Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 220: To ask the Minister for Education and Science, further to Question No. 1018 of 12 April 2005, if the statement in her reply that institutes of technology can apply for university status in view of the fact that the OECD review of higher education here, the broad thrust of which has been approved by the Government, recently recommends against such status being given to institutes of technology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12594/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the current situation is that any institution may apply for university status under the provisions of the University Act 1997. With regard to the reforms proposed for the higher education sector in the OECD Review of Higher Education, the Government has approved the broad thrust of reforms contained therein, while noting the ongoing process of extensive consultation with key stakeholders in the sector.

A colloquium was held in January between myself, senior officials in my Department, the HEA, the CHIU and the council of directors of institutes of technology where some of these issues were explored. This is just the beginning of a series of consultative forums which will focus on areas of priority for reform and modernisation. It is my objective that a consensus should emerge from the process of consultation, and I do not wish to pre-empt the outcome of this by focusing on any single recommendation in isolation of full consideration of the report.