Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on any alignments or mergers of higher education institutions which have taken place since he took office; and any which are proposed to take place in the future. [20497/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In May of last year, following consideration of a report from the HEA, I asked the Higher Education Authority to implement a future system configuration. My letter to the HEA and their report is published on . It sets out all the proposed mergers and alignments. In summary, three groups of institutes of technology have expressed an interest to merge and apply to become technological universities. The three groups are:

1. Cork Institute of Technology; Institute of Technology Tralee

2. Waterford Institute of Technology; Institute of Technology Carlow

3. Dublin Institute of Technology; Institute of Technology Blanchardstown; Institute of Technology Tallaght

The three applicant groups are currently developing detailed plans towards merger. When these are complete they will submit them to the Higher Education Authority. Other mergers/alignments will arise from the Initial Teacher Education Review which recommended the creation of six centres of excellence in teacher education. The Froebel Institute has now been incorporated into NUI Maynooth. Significant progress has been made towards the other centres of excellence.