Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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2522. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will detail the additional student places, additional new courses and additional new academic disciplines at each of the new technological universities since their foundation. [19516/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Each of the five Technological Universities were formed from twelve individual Institutes of Technology through a complex transformation process that is ongoing, supported by the HEA and my Department.

The Higher Education Authority (HEA), as an agency of my Department, provides extensive sets of data and statistics on their website and I would direct the Deputy to that source as a first recourse. The student enrolment fields on this data can be filtered by provider and course level across a number of years.

Key Facts and Figures | Statistics | Higher Education Authority .

The Deputy should note that Technological Universities are autonomous institutions and consequently, the management of their day to day functions, including new courses and academic disciplines, are matters for the individual institution in the context of their governance structures and policies. My Department does not have a role in the monitoring of additional new courses or academic disciplines.

In the context of workforce planning or specific industry critical skills needs, my Department supports additionality in the system with the HEA, through Springboard, apprenticeships and the recent expression of interest process for additionality across medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Veterinary. through this process new veterinary programmes are being established in Atlantic Technological University and South East Technological University. At full rollout, it is expected that these programmes will have an annual intake of 80 veterinary medicine students, nearly doubling the current intake. These programmes are expected to commence in September 2026.

My Department, the HEA and the Higher Education Institutes, in collaboration with colleagues in the Department of Health, HSE, Department of Disabilities and Department of Education have commenced a further process to examine expansion of disability therapy places in 2025, 2026 and beyond, in response to critical public service needs.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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2523. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will detail the history of public-private-partnership-funded projects at South East Technological University; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19517/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The original third level PPP programme, announced in 2008, included three projects at the South East Technological University (SETU) campus at Waterford: the Engineering and Science building, the Architecture building and the Business and Enterprise building. The projects involved had been suspended due to affordability issues in 2010.

The current Higher Education PPP Programme, which was originally announced as part of the Building on Recovery Capital Plan 2016-2021, includes eleven projects. This commitment to the PPP programme has been carried through into the current National Development Plan 2021-2030. Bundle 1, consisting of six projects, has four projects completed and two under construction, with separate completion dates in Q2 2025.

Of the five projects in Bundle 2 two are for SETU, one at the Waterford campus and one at the Carlow campus. The project in Waterford is the Architecture, Engineering, Computing and Humanities Building. At almost 13,000 meters squared, this is the largest in the Higher Education PPP Programme. The Carlow project is the Science & Health Building. At just over 6,000 meters squared this will cater for 567 students. Both buildings, once completed, will be transformative for SETU.

Bundle 2 is currently moving to Financial Close and, upon a satisfactory conclusion of this vital last element of the procurement process, construction is expected to commence in Q2 2025.

Construction durations for the five Bundle 2 projects vary from 26 to 36 months with the engineering building in SETU, Waterford campus, taking 36 months, being the largest project in the programme.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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2524. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will detail the outstanding debts held by any of technological universities and institutes of technology, the history of those debts and repayments made and envisaged. [19518/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has entered into recharge arrangements with respect to emergency funding provided to both Munster Technological University (MTU) and South East Technological University (SETU).

Waterford IT, now part of SETU, received funding of €12.1m in 2014 to assist with the purchase of student accommodation and the completion of a sports arena. The current agreement with the institution is to repay the Department just over €900k per annum. Repayments began in 2015. The current balance outstanding is €3.9m.

IT Tralee, now part of MTU, received funding of €5m in 2019. The current arrangement with the institution is to repay the Higher Education Authority €250k per annum. Repayments began in 2024. The current balance outstanding is €4.75m.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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2525. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will detail the progress and plans for new academic employment contracts in the technological university sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19519/25]

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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2526. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will detail the new integrated management structures in each of the new technological universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19520/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2525 and 2526 together.

I propose to take these questions together:

The five Technological Universities were established under the Technological Universities Act 2018, amalgamating the existing Institutes of Technology into new, multi-campus universities. With the establishment of South East Technological University (SETU) in 2022, the establishment phase of the process has been completed. The sector is now in a phase of consolidation and continued transformation, including it's its management and staffing structures.

During the establishment phase the HEA, in consultation with DFHERIS, commissioned an OECD review on academic career structures, academic contracts and senior management and leadership structures in TUs. The resulting report published in 2022 provided recommendations on international best practice structures to inform TU development. DFHERIS supports reform based on the key recommendations of the report, which include the introduction of a new academic contract and a new career structure and the introduction of revised academic management and leadership structures.

As per the OECD recommendation, the grades envisaged in the new TU Academic Career Framework will align with those in previously existing universities:

- Assistant Lecturer - an early-stage academic role, with the post-holder responsible for delivering prime education duties and developing their initial research activity

- Lecturer - a more experience academic role, with additional responsibilities assigned and some research profile having been developed

- Senior Lecturer - a more senior role reflecting more extensive experience in education duties, with leadership responsibilities in teaching and learning practices and engagement in pedagogical/professional research

- Associate Professor - a leadership role in research with expectations of significant contribution to teaching and learning activities in the university

- Professor - the most senior role in the academic career framework, with an expectation for a substantial reputation in research; major contributor to teaching and learning innovation and delivery; and contributor to the development of a particular discipline across a range of metrics

It is accepted that this represents a long-term reform programme. The current focus is on the introduction of the professor grade to the TUs as a first step. My Department has undertaken significant engagement with the relevant stakeholders and staff representatives on this matter to actively progress the introduction of the professor grade in TU's as a matter of priority.

Regarding the new management structures, my officials have worked closely with the Presidents of the TUs and their interim management bodies in supporting the development of their new integrated management structures. This is a complex and sensitive area of work and is ongoing in most TU’s.

In January 2025, my Department secured approval of Executive Management Teams for four of Ireland’s five Technological Universities:

1.Atlantic Technological University (ATU)

2.Technological University of the Shannon and Mid-West (TUS)

3.South-East Technological University (SETU) and

4.Munster Technological University (MTU) which will complete MTU’s senior management team, the first half of which was appointed soon after it’s incorporation.

TU Dublin was the first Technological University to be established, and the Executive Management Team has been in place since soon after its incorporation.

In total, 27 posts have been sanctioned across four institutions at single point salary grades, including;

- Executive Vice President (17 posts)

- Faculty Dean (9 posts)

- Chief Corporate Officer (1 post)

These pay points have been sanctioned following extensive consultation with DPENDR. Recruitment for further posts within theses grades will continue over the coming years until the full integration of integrated management structures is complete.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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2527. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will detail the nature of the financial deficit reported to be in the accounts of Technological University Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19521/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Technological University Dublin's (TU Dublin) financial statements for the most recent academic year 2023/24 are yet to be received by the Department. These financial statements are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) each year, prior to being laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

TU Dublin's audited financial statements for the 2022/2023 academic year ending 31/08/2023 were signed by the C&AG on 23rd December 2024 and showed a deficit of €8.4m for 2022/23 with a deficit in the prior period of account of €3.8m.

TU Dublin is currently undergoing a Section 64 review process under the HEA Act 2022. TU Dublin was requested to prepare a Recovery Plan to address the concerns raised by the HEA in relation to managing and controlling the financial deficit in TU Dublin. The HEA will continue to engage with TU Dublin and closely monitor progress to ensure its timely implementation.