Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he intends that the higher education system should be reconfigured into five regional clusters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17531/13]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reconfigure the higher education system into five regional clusters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17546/13]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos.10 and 32 together.

As you are aware, the Higher Education Authority last year published "Towards a Future Higher Education Landscape". They invited submissions from institutions and commissioned expert analyses with a view to providing me with formal advice on an outline future configuration of the higher education system. This will include advice on regional clusters of higher education institutions which will allow programmes of teaching and learning to be better planned and co-ordinated, resources to be used more efficiently and more flexible student pathways and better progression opportunities to be put in place. I am expecting to receive that advice shortly.