Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1227. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the governance issues identified in the CINNTE review of South East Technological University, including the delay in sanctioning the three senior vice-president posts required to strengthen their governance structures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23404/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1228. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to resolve the staffing challenges at South East Technological University, including its inability to appoint professors due to current constraints and the ongoing need to monitor and support staff workload and well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23405/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1229. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions he is taking to support South East Technological University in integrating its academic programmes across campuses, as recommended in the CINNTE review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23406/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1228, 1227 and 1229 together.

Thank you Deputy McGuinness for your question and related SETU questions.

I propose to respond to all three PQs 23404/25, 23405/25, and 23406/25 together, related as they are to the work of my Department with SETU.

I wish to begin by stating that my Department continues to support SETU, along with all five Technological Universities, in line with our commitments towards the sector under the Programme for Government. SETU is a particularly vital part of the sector, representing as it does the only university presence in the South East region.

SETU was the third technological university to complete the CINNTE review process in 2024 as required by the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). As an agency of my Department QQI is responsible for the external quality assurance (QA) of higher education. One of QQI’s functions is to monitor and review QA in higher education institutions, this is called the institutional review process. QQI’s current review cycle is called CINNTE.

In the case of SETU the review, conducted by an independent team of experts appointed by QQI, has provided a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of SETU's quality assurance processes since its establishment in May 2022. The report highlights SETU's commitment to quality assurance, governance, and its strategic vision for the future.

With regard to the recommendations identified in the CINNTE review, QQI have agreed a follow-up process with SETU which involves the submission of an implementation plan outlining how the institution plans to address the review recommendations. This implementation plan is due to be submitted on 04 July 2025.

Additionally, one year after publication of the review report, the institution will submit a detailed follow-up report to QQI, providing an account of actions taken, outcomes achieved and progress made in addressing the review findings and recommendations. There is also an Annual Quality Reporting (AQR) process and a Biennial Quality Dialogue Meeting (QDM) process to review the status of recommendations, progress made in implementation and similar progress. QQI and my Department will work closely with SETU and will provide all necessary support throughout this process.

Staffing and Governance

With regard to the questions of staffing and governance, my Department is supporting SETU in its continued transformation from separate IoTs to one university and this is a high priority for my Department. As noted in the CINNTE review, the process of creating a new university from the merger of long-established and effective higher educational institutions is a complex one, and organisational and structural change is essential if SETU is to create a single set of operational academic processes.

I am pleased to note in this area that sanction for three vice-presidential roles was granted in January of this year, following extensive engagement between my Department, their colleagues in DPENDPR and the Higher Education Authority, and the President and staff of SETU. SETU have indicated that they are ready to proceed to the next phase of building their new executive team and my officials are engaging with them in this regard. Once the full team is in place the university will be better enabled to integrate their academic programmes across multi-campus locations.

Regarding the appointing of professors, this is a high priority area for me and my Department. The creation of this new role for the TU sector is very important to the success of TUs, their contribution to research, enterprise and balanced regional development. The CINNTE report notes it remains an active discussion point between TU leadership and government. I look forward to sharing more on this matter in the coming months.

Regarding your questions about the management of staff workload and stress I must remind the Deputy that TU's, like all HEIs in Ireland are autonomous institutions and consequently, the management of internal functions are matters for the individual institution in the context of their governance structures and policies. This not only pertains to staff management but also it's academic programmes and structures.