Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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219. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the courses on offer at Limerick Institute of Technology, Thurles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17688/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Higher education institutions, such as Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT), are autonomous bodies and their day to day operational affairs including issues such as the provision of courses are the responsibility of the management authority and governing body of the Institute.

Information on the range of course provided at the LIT’s Thurles campus is available from the Institution’s website: .

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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220. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the capital plans his Department has for Limerick Institute of Technology, Thurles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17689/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Limerick Institute of Technology has submitted a project proposal in respect of the campus at Thurles which will be considered in the context of available resources and priorities for the sector. 

The National Development Plan signals Exchequer investments of €2.2 billion in higher education infrastructure over the coming decade. This welcome increase in funding will present major new opportunities for the higher education sector. However, it should be noted that the significant ramp up in investment will take place over time and particularly in the second half of the NDP period. 

In that context, a capital investment prioritisation framework, together with updated appraisal approaches, will be developed over the coming months to inform funding decisions and to ensure that maximum impact and value for money can be achieved from Exchequer investments. 

All project proposals under consideration for capital funding will be subject to detailed appraisal in accordance with the Public Spending Code. 

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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221. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to develop Limerick Institute of Technology, Thurles, as a hub for the training of agribusiness professionals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17690/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The strategic direction for higher education in Ireland is set out in the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 and the Action Plan for Education, 2016-2019. Under these strategies, the Higher Education Authority (HEA), reviews the performance and progress of the Irish higher education system, with reference to a steering and performance based framework for the system governance of higher education in Ireland.

Higher educational institutions are independent bodies. The performance framework and associated dialogue process allows institutions to set out the individual contribution they will make to delivery of national system-level objectives, with reference to their mission, strengths and strategic plans and in ways that reflect the diversity of the institutional mission or profile.

As part of its goal setting and reporting process with the HEA, Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) reported on its incorporation of the former Tipperary Rural and Business Development Institute in Thurles into an enlarged LIT with more than 7,000 full-time and part-time learners and approximately 550 staff members serving Limerick City and County, Tipperary and Clare. LIT research and development plans reported to the HEA include a Centre for Rural and Sustainable Development at Thurles which is focused on supporting communities, enterprises, and industry to develop and engage in sustainable practices and processes. The LIT Thurles Campus also provides a number of undergraduate programmes in rural and sustainable development, central to the training of agribusiness professionals.