Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 450: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on granting university status to the Institute of Technology, Tallaght; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39059/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In September 2004, the OECD published a review of higher education in Ireland. The review recommends that the differentiation of mission between the university and institute of technology sectors be maintained and, that for the foreseeable future, there should be no institutional transfers to the university sector. The Government has accepted the broad thrust of the OECD's recommendations as a guide to future policy in third level education. I believe that the institutes of technology are a key component of a dynamic, vibrant third level sector and, in the circumstances, I have no plans to review the status of the Institute of Technology, Tallaght.

The Government has also decided that the institutes of technology should join with the universities under the remit of the Higher Education Authority, and legislation to give effect to that decision is currently being drafted.