Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Technological University Transformation Fund (TUTF) is a three-year fund (1 September 2020 – 31 August 2023) that has invested €90 million in the technological sector to assist with the development and progression of technological universities. Technological university consortia, technological universities, and institutes of technology received funding under the TUTF, with the final tranche of TUTF funding of €30 million being dispersed in Q4 2022 by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

It is important to note that our higher education and research system is successful by virtue of its diversity, within and across regions. Each former Institute of Technology, and now TUs, are distinctive by nature of their strategy, their location, their scale, their mission and their stage of development. TUTF funding is allocated by the HEA in a managed fashion in response to requests from TUs taking account of all of these factors and based on stated and evidenced institutional needs.

My Department understands that the HEA is currently engaging with institutions on progress with TUTF funding ahead of the August 31 end date for the fund this year, which includes a process to facilitate a 12-month administrative extension for institutions that require additional time to compete elements of their TUTF projects.

In parallel, Department officials are currently liaising with their HEA counterparts regarding the requirement for further support for the technological sector in the context, inter alia, of the finalisation of projects being funded by TUTF, the recent OECD report on academic career paths, contracts and organisation in Irish TUs and the ongoing operational and developmental needs of the sector in line with the Technological Universities Act 2018 and national strategy for higher education and research.

In this context any future TU funding will also complement the significant additional funding of some €124 million secured by Government for the progression of various elements of the TU agenda under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to 2024 and under the European Regional Development Fund to 2027.

I am committed to ensuring requisite TU oriented funding is provided as appropriate during the crucial post-establishment phase whether through Exchequer or co-funded EU sources.