Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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563. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of the Munster Technological University since its inception; the level of funding provided to same in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11065/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Munster Technological University (MTU) was established on 1 January 2021 together with the apppointment of  a first governing body and first president Professor Maggie Cusack. 

In accordance with the Technological Universities Act 2018 the governing body expanded its membership in the first six months though internal staff elections, student member nominations and an external member recruitment process.  It is understood that a  number of key governing body committees have been established including Audit & Risk, Strategic Development, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Arts, Sports and Culture and Finance and that an interim Academic Council has been established.

A university executive team was established combining the existing legacy management teams. Financial, human resources and payroll systems have been merged and information sytems integration continues with all staff on single MTU domain infrastructures.

A change management programme is in place that includes the development of a  university strategy and organisational structure. Academic quality and corporate policies have been aligned and a programme of development of the policy framework continues.

While Covid19 has had a significant impact during 2020/21, the creation of MTU has had a very positive reception my Department understands. It is a tribute to MTU staff, students and the wider community that the university has successfully completed its foundation year in 2021 and the university is projecting strong student number growth.

Progress on MTU has included work on a number of Capital projects. These include a new Learning Resource Centre is planned for MTU Cork Campus. This will consist of classrooms, learning resource spaces, administration space and ancillary space.  In conjunction with decanted space elsewhere on campus, the new building will increase capacity of the institution by 1,000 students.

 A new  STEM building is planned for MTU Tralee Campus, consisting of labs, agri-machinery workshops, classroom spaces and ancillary space.  This will be built on the Institute’s North Campus and represents an important step in the consolidation of the Institute on that site and will increase the capacity of the institution by some 440 students.  These two projects form part of Bundle 1 of the Higher Education PPP Programme. 

In addition to this, €18,750m has been approved under Project Ireland 2040 for an extensive upgrade and refurbishment of the main 1974 building on the MTU Cork campus.  This funding represents a key investment for Cork City and will further boost the role played by MTU as a driver of economic development in the southern region. This programme of works will be phased to minimise disruption to students and staff.

Since 2020 MTU has received a total of €12.8 million in Exchequer funding under the Transformation Fund which supports the development and progression of TUs nationally with €4.22 million received by the university under its 2021 allocation.

We are also working with MTU to develop proposals to accommodate students living on campus.