Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Governing Authority of a University has responsibility under the Universities Act, 1997 for oversight of the governance and strategic direction of the university including the approval of expenditure for major capital and investment projects, and providing strategic direction and managing the financial affairs of the university to ensure value for money and its financial viability.

As an autonomous body, it is a matter for UCC to prioritize its capital projects accordingly. There have been two rounds of capital funding made available to Higher Level Institutions under the Higher Education Strategic Investment Fund (HESIF) in recent years. Each institute was permitted to submit one project per funding round under HESIF. UCC chose to lodge applications for the Business School and for an upgrade to the Kane Building, both of which have been successful and have received €50 million in direct exchequer funding from this Department.

In relation to the agreement between UCC and the EIB, Section 38 of the Universities Act, 1997 sets out the basis for borrowing and loan guarantees by universities. It provides for such borrowing in accordance with a framework agreed between the universities and the Higher Education Authority. The current borrowing framework provides for universities to engage in borrowing within agreed parameters including that such borrowings are in accordance with the objects and functions of the university and the university is able to meet the annual servicing costs without recourse to additional Exchequer funding. Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006, and the Technological Universities Act 2018 and are fully responsible for the repayment, including interest, of any borrowings undertaken. My Department was not involved in the agreement reached between UCC and the EIB.

The Dental Council is an independent statutory provider, which aims to promote high standards of professional education and conduct among dentists in Ireland. It sets its own requirements in relation to the accreditation of dental education and training provided in the State’s dental schools and to the standards required at examinations for primary qualifications, for dentists to be included on the Dental Register. The Dental Council liaises directly with relevant higher education institutions in relation to their programmes and accreditation.

The Higher Education Authority recently undertook an Expressions of Interest (EOI) process to identify options for developing substantial medium-term additional capacity in a range of priority healthcare disciplines including Dentistry.

In June 2023 the Minister for Health and I announced details of the potential options identified under this process. I continue to engage closely on this matter with Government colleagues to advance the process, with investment to be considered in the context of the ongoing review of Departmental National Development Plan allocations to 2030.