Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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219. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the development of an enhanced polytechnic equivalent here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22972/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In line with the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030, the Government continues to support the development and progression of technological universities (TUs) as a key national strategic objective in advancing the higher education, skills, access, research and regional development agendas. The Programme for Government 2020 commits to supporting recently established TUs and to working closely with consortia to establish new TUs.

TUs have a particular emphasis on regional development, research and technological skills. However, they are multi-faceted and deliver a range of disciplines and levels of qualifications including apprenticeship to meet regional and national skills needs. TUs also concentrate on teaching and learning excellence, lifelong learning and have a student centred focus at their heart. TUs aim to become catalysts for enterprise and regional development and to increase the profile of this form of Irish Higher Education Institute (HEI) nationally and internationally.

In this context, there are no plans for the development of any other form of HEI, such as an enhanced polytechnic equivalent, in the state.