David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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104. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware of the Central Statistics Office household quarterly survey, quarter 1 report which shows that unemployment in the south east is dangerously high at 12.5%; if prioritising the development of a technological university in the region is an urgent priority; the steps he will take to ensure the speedy provision of a technological university in the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13873/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Partnership Government provides, inter alia, that the ultimate goal of the Government will be to deliver sustainable full employment by 2020. In this context, the Government is committed to the implementation of the Regional Action Plans for Jobs, with local input, to help spread growth to all areas.

The South East region is a good example of what can be achieved in creating sustainable employment growth through strong collaborative effort at local level. The economic crisis hit the South East's job numbers badly with the loss of 37,900 jobs from Q1 2008 to Q1 2011. However, since the launch of the Action Plan for Jobs in Q1 2012, the unemployment rate has fallen from 20.1 to 12.5 per cent – a decrease of 38% in that timeframe, with 204,400 people now at work, an increase of 23,100 over the period.

The South East Action Plan for Jobs which was published in September 2015 covers the counties of Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford and will build on the significant progress made to date. The core objective of the Plan is to support an ambitious programme of enterprise growth and job creation in region over the medium and longer term capitalising on the strengths and opportunities of the region.

The role of the education system featured strongly in the consultations for the Action Plan for Jobs, in particular through the introduction of entrepreneurship modules and ensuring young people develop an understanding so they can take an informed step towards self-employment if desired. An Implementation Committee has been established to oversee implementation of the South East Plan, and a range of educational stakeholders will attend these meetings, including the Carlow and Waterford Institutes of Technology.

The new Education and Training Boards in Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford have a fresh mandate, and like the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are now focused on developing stronger links with their local enterprise base. 3rd and 4th Level education in the region is provided by Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), Institute of Technology Carlow (IT Carlow) and Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) Tipperary.

It is recognised that the Institutes of Technology have developed strategic research activities aligned with the strengths of regional and national priorities. Overall, stronger engagements between the respective Institutes of Technology and employers and enterprises in the region provides a real opportunity to ensure that the excellence of the graduate and teaching and research capability is understood by all in the region and that the higher and further education systems can respond to the changing skills needs of employers.

Regional Skills Forum:

In addition to this, the establishment of a new Regional Skills Forum in the region by my Department will ensure a focus on attaining ambitious targets improved educational attainment and skills provision in the region. This will see institutions working together in the region to enhance progression and transfer pathways and develop greater co-ordination of academic provision and engagement with regional employers.

Technological Universities:

Furthermore, the new Programme for Government outlines that this new Government will continue to support the creation of Technological Universities. It is envisaged that the development of a Technological University for the South East will act as a catalyst and stimulus of economic, social and cultural development for the region.

The development of Technological Universities is in line with the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 which provides a framework for the development of the higher education sector to 2030. With regard to the institute of technology sector, the Strategy recommended significant reforms to position the sector to meet national strategic objectives. In particular, the Strategy recommended consolidation within the sector and a pathway of evolution for those consolidated institutes of technology, to allow them to demonstrate significant progress against robust performance criteria and to apply to become technological universities.

The development of technological universities has the potential to deliver greater opportunity to students in these regions, to staff working in the institutions, and to the broader local economy and society.

I would also like to underline that this is much more than a rebranding exercise – the institutions concerned are required to achieve high standards across a range of areas before being designated as technological universities. These include standards relating to the qualifications of staff, the quality of research output, the proportion of students engaged in lifelong learning, and other relevant issues.

Regional Focus:

There will also be a specific focus on the particular contribution the university will make to the needs of the region in which it is located. The development of technological universities has the potential to deliver greater opportunity to students in these regions, to staff working in the institutions, and to the broader local economy and society.

Consortiums who have applied:

As part of the implementation of the Strategy, the Higher Education Authority in 2012 published a four-stage process and criteria for applicant groups of institutes of technology wishing to apply to become technological universities.

The designation process consists of four stages as follows:

- an expression of interest,

- the preparation of a plan to meet the criteria,

- an evaluation of the plan, and

- an application for designation.

There are currently four consortia engaged with the process to become designated as TUs. These are TU4Dublin (Dublin Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Tallaght, Institute of Technology Blanchardstown), Technological University for the South-East (TUSE – consisting of Waterford Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Carlow), Munster Technological University (MTU – consisting of Cork Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Tralee) and the Connacht Ulster Alliance (CUA – consisting of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Sligo and Letterkenny Institute of Technology).

Status of Consortia:

At the end of 2014, two consortia successfully passed stage 3 of the four-stage process. These are the TU4Dublin consortium and the Munster Technological University consortium.

In early 2015 the Connacht-Ulster Alliance also expressed an interest in merging and in applying to become a technological university. This application was approved to proceed to the next stage. In line with the process for designation as a Technological University, Stage 2 of this process involves the preparation of a plan by the Connacht-Ulster Alliance, to meet the criteria for designation as a Technological University.

Technological University for the South-East (TUSE):

With regard to the Technological University for the South-East, consisting of Institute of Technology, Carlow (ITC) and Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), following the publication of the Kelly report, a preliminary facilitation process which was underway since September 2015, has recently been completed and a Report of the process was received by my Department on 13 May 2016. There was strong engagement in the process by both parties. This facilitation process has been an important building block in terms of building trust between the parties and in developing a strong working relationship between the Presidents and Chairs of both institutions. As part of this process, the Presidents of the two institutions, have jointly developed an initial work-plan to support the development of a joint TU proposal.

In addition to this both Institutions made a recent joint presentation and submission to the Higher Education Authority, seeking funding to underpin the next phase of engagement. This was part of the latest call issued by the Higher Education Authority regarding the restructuring of the higher education landscape. The call sought submissions for funding support in respect of the costs arising from mergers as part of the implementation of the National Strategy for Higher Education.

Position of Technological Universities Bill:

In relation to the position of the Technological Universities Bill, this Bill was at Report Stage at the time of dissolution of the previous Dáil in February 2016. I recognise that there were a significant number of matters raised in respect of the Bill at both Committee and Report Stage. It is my intention to now consult with all of the relevant stakeholders in relation to both the matters raised during the legislative process and the commitments contained in the Programme for Government.

Following the finalisation of this consultation process I will then advance the legislation having determined a position in relation to any matters raised as part of this consultation process.