Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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73. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for continued engagement with Munster Technological University as it develops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36762/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Officials in my Department are in regular contact as required in relation to relevant policy issues with management in all technological universities (TUs) including Munster Technological University (MTU).

The Department is represented on the National Negotiation Forums in relation to TUs where the representatives of both academic staff and professional, management and support staff and managements of TUs, including MTU, and TU development consortia meet regularly under an independent WRC chairperson to discuss prescribed policy issues of relevance arising for staff in the course of the development of TUs.

In addition, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) administers the Transformation Fund on behalf of the Department. The fund assists the development and progression of TUs nationally and last year allocated a total of Euros 34.33 million to this end, of which Euros 8.25 million was allocated to MTU. Discussions between the HEA and the relevant higher education institutions are understood to be currently ongoing in relation to TU project progression and proposed 2022 allocations.