Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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441. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the breakdown of the increased salary costs to be incurred by the Carlow teaching body as part of the semesterisation process with technological university designation now on the horizon for the Technological University for the South East Ireland; the projected increases or decreases his Department is guiding to this cost over the next five years; the way it is budgeted and will compare with the present costs at Waterford Institute of Technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55919/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The design, including costing, of models of academic programme delivery remains a matter for agreement by the relevant applicant institutes seeking to become a TU and as such, my Department was not involved in the process referred to by the Deputy in the case of the TUSEI consortium comprising IT Carlow and Waterford IT.

Government has demonstrated and I have reiterated on many occasions the ongoing support for the establishment and development of TUs, including for the establishment of a TU in the South East, first through over €30 million in Higher Education Landscape Funding allocations and currently through the €90 million in Transformation Fund allocations. In addition, my Department has secured an additional €40 million for TU education and training reforms programmes under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and is currently seeking up to €100 million under the European Regional Development Fund Programmes 2021 – 2027 for TU research related activity.

As with all HEI, including TUs, future funding requirements will be considered in the context of the overall estimates process and available funding annually.

Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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442. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the further duties required of a consultancy firm (details supplied); the agreed tender costs associated with the contract for its duration to the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55920/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department has no responsibility for the agreement of any extension of contractual arrangements, should such be the case, as the TUSEI consortium of IT Carlow and Waterford IT is the contracting party for the services of the consultancy firm referred to by the Deputy.