Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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187. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which the student unions are likely to remain independent of college authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37049/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Universities and Institutes of Technologies are autonomous institutions and my Department does not have any function in relation to their day to day operational affairs, for which the Governing Bodies and the management staff of the institutions are responsible.

My understanding is that Student Unions are separate entities from the Higher Education Institutions and I understand that they run their own affairs independently of the Higher Education Institutions.  

Neither my Department, nor the HEA, has any role in relation to the regulation or operation of Student Unions in Higher Education Institutions.