Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update of the full list of capital projects at Cork Institute of Technology; and the capital projects at CIT that are affected by the recent Infrastructure and Capital Investment Plan 2012-2016. [37595/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Government published details of the capital funding available to the Department of Education and Skills for the period 2012-2016. The level of funding available for investment in higher education infrastructure provides for funding of projects where legally binding contractual commitments exists. In this regard 2 projects at Cork Institute of Technology - the repatriation of apprentices and the passive retrofit of the demonstration area of the 1974 building - constitute binding contractual commitments for which funding is available.

Resources are not available to my Department to enable it fund progression of the library project which had been in planning for delivery through the Public Private Partnership process. Officials from my Department will however be in touch with the National Development Finance Agency to discuss and consider next steps in relation to the work that has been completed to date on this project. The Institute will be advised of the outcome in this matter in due course.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a proposal to create a technological university through a partnership between Cork Institute of Technology and Waterford Institute of Technology; and if he will support a partnership between these two institutes. [37596/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I have asked the Higher Education Authority for its formal advice on the draft criteria for Technological University designation and the on a suitable process for application and assessment against those criteria. Following consideration of this advice it is my intention to publish the designation criteria and the process arrangements so that Institutes of Technology which are considering proposals for merger and designation can do so on an informed basis. I expect to be in a position to do this very shortly. Any proposals for Technological University status will have to be considered in a rigorous fashion against the performance criteria and within the bounds of the agreed process.