Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1031. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding allocations in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 to assist the development and progression of technological universities by project and date in tabular form; and the administrative process and computational method of allocating funding to projects. [33577/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 provides for substantial and appropriate restructuring, consolidation and co-operative approaches within the landscape of Irish higher education, including the development of technological universities. My Department, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and relevant higher education institutions are dedicating significant investment towards technological university development and progression.

The administration of funding in support of the development and progression of technological universities is carried out on behalf of the Department by the HEA. In 2018 and 2019 this process was carried out under an annual competitive call for higher education Landscape Funding. Following a detailed assessment of applications and project plans by the HEA, the recommended outcomes were forwarded for Department and Ministerial approval. An external review of projects awarded Landscape Funding during the period 2017-2019 (Landscape Review) has been commissioned by the HEA and is currently being undertaken.

The report of the TU Research Network (TURN): Connectedness & Collaboration enabled by Connectivity was published in October 2019. The report details the case and requirements for a step change in higher education configuration whereby technological universities will be facilitated to assist in the delivery of national strategic objectives for regional socio-economic development, higher education access and research and skills progression The report makes a series of recommendations for outcomes that will provide a solid foundation for the development of and progression of technological universities. A key recommendation is for the reconfiguration of the previous Landscape Funding approach by the establishment of a dedicated funding stream to support technological university development.

In Budget 2020 Government announced a new Technological University Transformation Fund which would see technological university oriented funding increase by €90 million to over €120 million in total by 2023. Following discussions between the HEA and the Department of Education and Skills the subsequent strategic direction of the TURN process and the design and operation of funding allocations under the new Transformation Fund was assigned to the HEA, subject to policy direction from the Department, in May 2020.

The HEA convened and chaired two meetings of the TURN group, comprising representatives of the various TU development consortia, TU Dublin, Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) and the HEA, in May and July to discuss the approach to the design and implementation of the Transformation Fund, informed by the recommendations of the TURN report. It was agreed that a competitive process would not be the best approach to the new Fund, as the TURN report sets out a shared understanding of the issues to be faced in realising the ambition for technological universities in Ireland.

The HEA held individual meetings with TU development consortia and eligible higher education institutions in June and requested outline proposals, detailing their key priorities for the three year period of the Transformation Fund. The proposals were reviewed by the HEA and discussed by the TURN group in July. The HEA issued correspondence together with a formal submission template and information guide to TU development consortia and eligible institutions in early August. A letter from the THEA and TU Dublin in relation to the new Fund was also submitted to the HEA, indicating mutual support for the outcomes of the TURN Report and reaffirming their commitment to developing an overarching strategic approach to the Fund. A total of eight formal submissions for multi-annual funding support over three years of the Fund (1 September 2020 – 31 August 2023) were received by HEA by the end of August

Meetings were held by the HEA with all eligible consortia and institutions providing feedback on their outline proposals. The submissions were appraised by the HEA Executive and discussed with applicants in a series of online meetings in September with regard to:

Project Relevance;

- Quality of Proposal and Project Design;

- Efficiency and Effectiveness;

- Governance, Financial and Risk Management, including level of co-funding provided by the Higher Education Institutions.

Overall sectoral requirements across cost categories were also considered in the review of submissions. Final recommendations on funding allocations made by the HEA Executive were discussed by the HEA Finance and Governance Committee and approved by the HEA Board prior to my announcement of the first allocations under the Transformation Fund on 7 October 2020.

The table under sets out details by project of the allocations under the Transformation Fund in 2020 and under Landscape Funding in 2018 and 2019.

*€30million allocation will be disbursed Autumn 2020 and € 4.33million will be disbursed Q1 2021.

In terms of safeguards on allocations, a principle of the policy framework underpinning the Transformation Fund is that funding will be allocated on the basis of assessed capacity and capability and progress evidenced towards technological university designation and in meeting the objectives and ambition set out in the TURN report. To ensure that funding is used effectively, the HEA requires implementation plans from consortia and institutions setting out clear objectives, milestones and deliverables, aligned to their budgets. All consortia and institutions awarded funding in Year 1 of the Fund will be required to submit revised budgets and work packages, based on the level of funding allocated, prior to disbursal of funds. Funding may be removed or redistributed at the discretion of the HEA, where circumstances change or where sufficient progress on projects is not being made in accordance with project plans. The HEA will hold quarterly meetings with consortia and institutions to monitor progress towards results, as set out in the project plans. Written and financial reports on progress will be required biannually and may be subject to external verification.

Funding will be released in a phased way over the three-year operation of the Transformation Fund, based on progress achieved against objectives set out in proposal submissions. The findings and any ‘lessons learned’ from the ongoing Landscape Review commissioned by the HEA will also inform the ongoing management and implementation of the Fund.