David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the consultancy firms commissioned to carry out work associated with the development of technological universities by his Department, the HEA and each institute of technology, by institute; the name of the consultancy firm; the costs associated and the work involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46019/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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A report by Mr. Michael Kelly of Governance Ireland Ltd. on an engagement and consultation process on a technological university for the south east was commissioned by the Department of Education and Skills and published on 27 July 2015.  The total cost incurred in the preparation of this report was €32,782.65 (including VAT), which was met by the Department of Education and Skills.  As outlined at the time of publication and recommended in the Kelly report, a facilitation process between the leadership group in Waterford Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Carlow was subsequently commissioned by the Department of Education and Skills and undertaken by the consultancy firm, SIA Partners, commencing in September 2015 and finalised in May 2016.  The total amount paid to SIA Partners for this work was €12,779 (including VAT), which cost was met by the Department of Education and Skills.

In 2017 two studies were commissioned by the Connacht Ulster Alliance of Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Sligo and the Letterkenny Institute of Technology in the context of a potential expansion of that consortium by a number of additional institutes of technology. These reports were paid for by the Department of Education and Skills. The reports were “The Economic Impact of a Technological University in Ireland: An exploratory study” by Viewforth Consulting Ltd. Cost:  €21,600.00 (VAT inclusive) and “Development of the Technological University TU5: International perspectives and options” by Emeritus Professor John L. Davie. Cost:  €7,961  (VAT inclusive).

Since 2013 Exchequer co-funding has been provided in relation to the development of technological university projects by consortia of institutes of technology. The most recent Exchequer allocations were made following funding calls in 2017 and 2018 administered by the Higher Education Authority in support of higher education landscape restructuring.  In this context the details  of any consultancy work commissioned by the Authority itself, including in the wider context of technological university development, or by consortia of institutes of technology, are matters for those bodies.