Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions that have resulted from the 2009 North West Gateway Strategic Alliance, NWGSA, scoping study prepared for Letterkenny Institute of Technology and the University of Ulster by a company (details supplied) in association with London Economics. [41126/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Department provided funding to Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LKIT) under the Strategic Innovation Fund to examine the potential for a strategic alliance with the University of Ulster (UU) and to identify areas where additional higher education capacity could be delivered in the north west region.

As part of the project, a scoping study was undertaken by Indecon International Economic Consultants and London Economics and this identified a need to augment higher education provision in the region, the potential offered by a strategic collaboration between LYIT and the University of Ulster, and specific opportunities for collaboration between the two institutions.

While a formal alliance has not been entered into, both institutions are continuing to work together on a number of collaborative projects. An example of this is an application to the INTERREG programme, in conjunction with the Urban Regeneration Company for Derry, for the establishment of a North West Regional Science Park. The Park would be co-located in Derry and Letterkenny and aims to provide a platform for joint developments in research and business incubating activities supported by both higher education institutions. A decision on the application is expected in early 2012.

It should also be noted that the National Strategy for Higher Education published last year also identified the potential for institutional collaboration on a North-South basis and the benefits it would have for cross-border regional development. In this regard, my Department will continue to support as appropriate the further development of collaborative links between LKIT and the University of Ulster.