Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

108. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans and priorities for the location of a third level education campus in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30987/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Following completion of the Landscape process initiated by the HEA in 2012, I recently received the formal advice from the Authority on the re-configuration of the higher education system, including proposals for inter-institutional collaboration and system governance. The HEA report and my written response to John Hennessey, Chair of the Authority is published on my Department's website. Implementation of this agreed reconfiguration starts immediately.

One of the overarching objectives of reform is to achieve greater consolidation and collaboration between the existing higher education institutions, making the system more flexible and responsive to the needs of Ireland's modern economy. No new campuses are envisaged. Existing higher education institutions are to form regional clusters and will work together to ensure that the needs of students in the region are met through collaborative high quality provision with the use of flexible and distance learning where appropriate.