Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his policy on the relocation of DIT to Grangegorman, Dublin 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11008/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Government has published details of capital funding available to my Department for the period 2012-2016. The level of funding available for Exchequer investment in higher education infrastructure provides only for funding projects where legally binding contractual commitments exist. While a master plan has been agreed for the Grangegorman project, work to date on the project has not advanced to the point of irrevocable contractual commitment.

The Government is committed to the long term future of this project. It has decided to advance initially with planning towards a PPP project for completion around 2017 and to plan for subsequent projects where construction targeted to begin post 2017.

Officials from my Department are in regular contact with the Grangegorman Development Agency, Dublin Institute of Technology and the Higher Education Authority concerning these matters and options for the next steps to progress the project having regard to the budgetary position.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his policy on the establishment of a technological university in the South East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11009/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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On Monday 13th February, the HEA published a number of documents intended to provide a broad framework for future system development in Irish higher education, including a clear four stage process and criteria for designation as Technological University. All institutions have now been invited to identify their key strengths and their future strategic fit within the system and submit a realistic plan to HEA on that basis.

Consortiums of institutes of technology, including any potential south-east configuration, proposing to merge and apply for designation as technological universities will need to submit a formal expression of interest within six months and will be advised within a further six months whether they can proceed to the second stage for designation. Decisions on designation as Technological Universities will be taken by an independent international expert panel at the final stages of application as set out clearly in the Process and criteria document available on www.hea.ie.