Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1200: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to promote more explicit arrangements for student transfer between institutes of technology and universities and open new routes of access from the further education sector to third level sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29460/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department, together with the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) supports the work of third level institutions in broadening routes of access to higher education. The National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2008–2013, which I launched in July 2008, seeks to encourage the broadening of entry routes to higher education institutions to greater reflect the fundamental changes being brought about through implementation of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

The NQAI have undertaken a major study on the Implementation and Impact of the National Framework of Qualifications and it is expected that the report will deal with a number of issues in relation to access, transfer and progression at all levels of the NFQ. The report is expected to be published by September 2009. The NQAI's Qualifax service, which gives information on programmes of education at all levels throughout the State, includes information on progression opportunities for those who complete programmes.

FETAC (Further Education and Training Awards Council) Level 5 and 6 qualifications are accepted as a basis for admission to the majority of higher education institutions and these qualifications are used as a route of access by increasing numbers of CAO applicants each year. The proportion of higher education places accepted by holders of FETAC major awards has grown from less than 3% in 2005 to over 10% in 2008 (4,309 students).

The Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS), introduced in 1995, links specific FETAC Level 5 Certificates and Level 6 Advanced Certificates to reserved places on a variety of higher education programmes. More recently, under an additional Pilot Scheme, course places are open to both FETAC applicants and Leaving Certificate applicants. Both schemes are intended to facilitate greater progression to third level programmes.

In October 2008 FETAC published a leaflet outlining current progression routes for holders of the FETAC Advanced Certificate – Craft, formerly known as the National Craft Certificate. This leaflet details progression routes to Levels 6, 7 and 8 full-time and part-time courses offered by a number of higher education institutions.

While almost all universities are prepared to consider applications for transfer from HETAC (Higher Education and Training and Awards Council) or DIT (Dublin Institute of Technology) qualifications, the number of transfers has been falling as opportunities to progress to degree level programmes within the institutes of technology have increased.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1201: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to provide a multi-annual capital fund of €2 billion for higher education institutions to support investment in the developing of modern campus facilities with leading edge teaching and learning infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29461/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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In the two years 2007 and 2008, the Government has invested in excess of €300m in developing the country's higher education infrastructure. In 2009 an additional €200m is being invested. Investments since 2007 have enabled the Government to expend €82m on dedicated research projects under Cycles 3 and 4 of the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRLTI) thereby advancing national strategic objectives of creating a knowledge economy. The Deputy will also be aware that earlier this year I announced the launch of Cycle 5 of PRLTI with planned investments of €300m in generating research capacity.

In addition to PRTLI sponsored initiatives, the Government has funded a €58m investment programme in upgrading existing research facilities. A total of 19 higher education institutions around the country benefited from this scheme, with €54m expended last year. In 2007, the Government invested €28m in funding a dedicated research equipment grant.

In terms of under graduate facilities, the Government has provided almost €30m to the institute of technology sector between 2007 and 2008 to enable institutes undertake programmes of minor works. Due to the success of this scheme, it has been expanded in 2009 to include the 7 Universities and an increase in the scope of the works, bringing the total cost of the scheme to €40m in 2009 alone. Additionally, there are 13 mainstream large scale capital projects currently at construction within the sector. Among them are in IT Building at NUI Cork; an Engineering Building at Athlone IoT; the refurbishment of the Carroll's Facility at Dundalk IoT and the second phase of the campus re-development at Mary Immaculate College of Education in Limerick. Phase 1 of the campus development at Mary Immaculate College completed construction in 2008 together with a further 15 projects.

A further 10 capital projects are at varying stages of planning with the target of being on site later this year or early in 2010. Among them are the Engineering School at NUI Galway; new library facility at NUI Maynooth; a new Law School and a new Science facility at UCD and the re-development of St. Patrick's College of Education in Dublin. These latter projects are separate from the Third Level Public Private Partnership Programme which involves three bundles of 17 projects across 9 institutions. These building projects will deliver enhanced facilities in the key strategic areas such as Engineering, IT, Science and Technology, Catering, Tourism and the Arts.