Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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12. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to offer new and additional courses at the technological university located in Ennis, County Clare, particularly engineering courses, considering the growing need for qualified engineers vis-à-vis the development of the Green Atlantic programme over the next decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49583/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The establishment of the new Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest is a hugely significant development. A core part of its mission will be to supply the graduate skills to meet the needs of employers in its region, and to support sustainable development.

Of course as an autonomous institution, it’s a matter for their Academic Council and their Governing Body to decide which courses it intends to provide in its different campus locations. That is absolutely the right approach.

I’m very aware of the Green Atlantic programme at Moneypoint. This will be a critical investment, not just for County Clare, but also for Ireland’s ambitions of meeting out net zero targets and of becoming a leader in green energy.

There are a range of programmes, including Springboard+ and the Human Capital Initiative, which can complement the core education and training system with upskilling and reskilling courses in areas of identified skills needs.

Springboard+ operates via a competitive call process, where Higher Education Institutions engage with enterprise to create proposals for courses in areas of identified skills need. Currently, Springboard+ enables institutions to put forward courses in any skills need that can be evidenced. The Springboard+ call process has concluded for this year, with courses now on offer to students. A new call process will commence in early 2022 for institutions to submit course proposals.

I will forward the Deputy details of the Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 Engineering courses on offer from the new TU for 2021/22. While these programmes aren’t located on the Ennis campus, with the flexible delivery in place through Springboard+ and HCI they are accessible to participants from across the region.