Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he approved the Higher Education Authority's decision to commission a report involving international experts which looked at mergers in the third level sector; the date on which he gave this approval; the date on which he intends to publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43066/12]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the recent Higher Education Authority report which recommends the merging of Trinity College, Dublin and University College Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42646/12]

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills has he received the Van Vught report on higher education; his views on the report’s recommendations, particularly in relation to merging Trinity College and University College Dublin; and if he will provide a date on which the report will be published. [43096/12]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a date for the publication of the report drawn up by a panel of international experts, requested by the High Education Authority on the future higher education landscape in Ireland. [42951/12]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to a report in the media (details supplied) on Tuesday 25 September, if claims that an international expert panel report on higher education in Ireland is recommending a merger of Trinity and UCD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43157/12]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to a report in the media (details supplied) on Tuesday the 25 of September 2012, if claims that an international expert panel report on higher education in Ireland has made radical proposals, if he will detail these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43158/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 87, 101, 119, 214, 227 and 228 together.

" Towards a Higher Education Landscape" published in February 2012 initiated a process of engagement by the HEA with higher education institutions with a view to providing me with advice on the future configuration and development of the higher education system. As part of this process all publicly funded institutions were asked to make submissions to the HEA on their future strategic development within the system. The HEA also commissioned inputs from a panel of 6 international experts and the ESRI. My approval to the terms of reference for these specific inputs was not sought. I received a copy of a report by the international panel on 17 September. When the process of analysing the institutional submissions against the objectives and recommendations in the national strategy is completed this analysis, the panel report and the ESRI report will be published by the HEA.