Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on proposals to create a technological university in the State. [24438/12]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on future plans for the Dublin Institute of Technology. [24439/12]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the proposals for closer alliances between Dublin City University and Dundalk Institute of Technology; his views on these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24440/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 to 103, inclusive, together.

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 higher education institutions, including Dundalk IT and DCU, 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 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.

The landscape documentation also includes guidelines for the building of regional collaborative clusters of all our higher education institutions. These different aspects of the reform process will be key to the delivery of many of the most important objectives of the National Strategy including achieving a coherent, diverse higher quality education system that is more responsive to the needs of students, enterprise and the wider community.