John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if additional support is being provided for the establishment of technological universities and the transition that institutes of technology undergo to form the new technological university. [6090/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Since 2013 Government has provided over €90 million under firstly the Higher Education Landscape Fund, and since 2020 under the TU Transformation Fund to consortia of Institutes of Technology. This funding has the objective of advancing consortia proposals for TU establishment and assists newly established TUs in the post-establishment transition period when these TUs are seeking to embed regionally and deliver on their various legislative functions. A further €30 million allocation will be provided under the Transformation Fund this year.

In addition, Government has secured €40 million under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan in the period to 2024 for a TU education and training reform programme and is also seeking to secure over €80 million for a TU regional research development and innovation integration (RRDII) programme under the ERDF Co-Funded Regional Programmes 2021-2027.

A number of TU development consortia and established TUs are also receiving support for new or refurbishment related capital programmes with the assistance of my Department and the Higher Education Authority. There will also be further opportunity for TUs to submit capital proposals in the near future.