Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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601. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to further advance inter-institutional collaboration between institutes of higher education; the progress that has been made to ensure that greater consolidation, with regards to course delivery and service provision within the sector, is carried out on an all-island basis; her plans to introduce legislation which will give recognition to the establishment of strategic alliances between individual institutions, which willingly agree to enter into a cluster agreement; if she has considered the economic and societal benefits which such legislation will potentially yield, in terms of higher educational attainment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36432/15]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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602. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the findings and recommendations in a report compiled by Indecon International Economic Consultants in March 2009, entitled North West Gateway Strategic Alliance (NWGSA) Scoping Study, which was prepared for Letterkenny Institute of Technology and the University of Ulster, in which the delivery of higher education in the region is discussed; the progress that has been made to further advance co-operation between the institutions involved in the study; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36433/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 601 and 602 together.

Furthering inter-institutional collaboration was a major objective of the National Strategy 2011 and substantial progress has been made in this regard. In 2013, following the receipt of advice from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on the future landscape of higher education, my predecessor set out the policy framework for the establishment of clusters of higher education institutions (HEIs). These clusters have commenced work in the designated priority areas of academic planning and student pathways, and some have made considerable progress. These cluster objectives have also been included in the mission based compacts agreed between the HEA and each HEI. Regional Skills fora are also being developed to underpin the interaction between HEIs, further education and training providers and enterprise on skills needs at regional level. Collaboration among regional stakeholders is a strong feature of the Action Plans for Jobs Regional initiative.

In respect of all island provision, there are significant bilateral linkages between individual HEIs in the border regions, particularly Dundalk IT, IT Sligo and Letterkenny IT, and the University of Ulster and Queen's University Belfast. I am aware of the Indecon report of 2009 referred to by the Deputy; however I understand that despite some work by both institutions to develop co-ordinated planning and provision it has not been possible to advance this significantly in the interim.