Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of recommendations from the OECD report on higher education here that she intends to actively prioritise over the coming 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32713/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The OECD review of Irish higher education makes a series of far-reaching recommendations for reform and development of the sector, against the backdrop of the crucial role which has been identified for it in helping to achieve the broad strategic national goal of becoming a leading knowledge-based society.

Earlier this year, the Government approved the broad reform agenda outlined by the OECD and the bringing forward of legislative proposals to transfer responsibility for management of the institutes of technology from my Department to the Higher Education Authority.

This Bill is being drafted and effecting this transfer will be a key priority of my Department in the coming year. The bringing together of universities and institutes of technology under a common management structure will facilitate the development of a more strategic approach to higher education within a unified policy framework and the gradual devolution to the institutes of technology of greater academic and managerial autonomy.

In April of this year, in outlining a detailed response to the OECD recommendations, I announced my intention to create a strategic innovation fund to incentivise reform and modernisation in the sector. Planning for this is at an advanced stage, with detailed criteria for the fund currently being finalised by my Department and the Higher Education Authority. I expect to be in a position to announce funding for a call for proposals in 2006 shortly. Development of a new funding model for third level institutions by the Higher Education Authority is also at an advanced stage.

Action on a number of other issues raised in the review is also already underway, in particular the proposal by the OECD that research and development issues should be co-ordinated across Departments and agencies. The interdepartmental committee on science, technology and innovation is now playing an active role in planning for our needs into the future and ensuring that national objectives are pursued and achieved in a "joined up" manner.

I have signalled my intention, where necessary, to bring forward comprehensive new legislation to give effect to those OECD recommendations that will involve legislative change. I view the OECD recommendations as a framework which will ensure that higher education institutions have the capacity to help Ireland's transition to the knowledge society and I have also made it quite clear that the final shape of future policy proposals for the sector will take account of the views of those working in and with it. To this end, my Department and I have already engaged in an extensive consultation process with stakeholders and I look forward to this dialogue continuing into the future.