Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1230. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will act on the recommendations of the CINNTE review to improve student supports and retention at South East Technological University, including the establishment of a student retention task force and targeted supports for students from disadvantaged backgrounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23407/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

SETU was the third technological university to complete the CINNTE review process in 2024 as required by the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) as part of their review cycle. As an agency of my Department QQI is responsible for the external quality assurance (QA) of higher education.

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 insititution 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.

In relation to retention specifically, SETU placed a particular emphasis on retention in their 2024-2028 Performance Agreement with the HEA. SETU has committed to improving student progression through targeted supports and have set a target to increase student progression from a baseline of 81% in 2021, to 85% by 2028. hea.ie/assets/uploads/2024/11/SETU-Performance-Agreement-2024%E2%80%932028.pdf.

The most recent HEA report on progression and completion, published last month, shows SETU has demonstrated improvements in student retention. Non-progression rates in SETU have fallen from 24% in 2021/22 to 20% in 2022/23, indicating a return to pre-Covid levels.

On May 4th 2022 the Government published Funding the Future, a landmark policy framework on the sustainable funding of the higher education system. It identified €307m as the quantum of funding required to deliver enhanced performance, strategic reforms and strengthened quality of outcomes. Priority areas for investment were identified, including in relation to student participation and success, particularly for under-represented groups, and in relation to the provision of enhanced student supports.

In total, through the three budgets since the Framework was published in May 2022, the Government has secured an additional €164.4m in Exchequer and employer funding with a commitment to deliver a further €100m by 2030 from the National Training Fund. This enhanced level of funding will support higher education institutions, including SETU, in strengthening their capacity to support student success and improve retention and completion rates.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1231. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take to ensure that South East Technological University can deliver on its potential as a driver of regional development in the south east, as highlighted in the CINNTE review, whether he intends to address structural constraints such as the absence of a borrowing framework for capital expansion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23408/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department is fully committed to supporting the continued development of 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 is already delivering on its potential as a regional driver and I am committed to ensuring it continues to develop in this regard.

The CINNTE review highlighted SETU's strong regional engagement and emphasised the university's engagement and collaboration with other providers of education and with employers and industry.

A recent development in this area was when, following a rigorous HEA process, SETU was approved to offer a new honours degree programme in Veterinary Medicine. The University have received commitment from Teagasc to provide its flagship educational institute, Kildalton Agricultural College in Kilkenny, as a key facility in the delivery of the course which expects its first intake of 40 students in 2026. This represents a major step forward for SETU and will greatly expand its role as a driver of regional development in the south east.

Borrowing Framework:

The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments to enable Technological Universities to borrow funds, primarily for student accommodation purposes. It is my intention to progress these Programme for Government commitments over the lifetime of this Government.

Decisions regarding the capacity of technological universities to borrow will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Technological Universities Act, 2018. In particular, the provisions of section 21 which sets out the parameters regarding how a technological university may borrow money by means of a bank overdraft or otherwise and may guarantee or underwrite a loan taken or borrowing undertaken by any person.

The 2018 Act requires that any rules be developed by the HEA, following consultation with my Department and the Departments of Public Expenditure and Finance.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1232. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the ways his Department plans to monitor and support implementation of the CINNTE review recommendations at South East Technological University, given the review’s finding that while some progress has been made, significant challenges remain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23409/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is the state agency responsible for the external quality assurance of higher education in Ireland. One of QQI’s functions is to monitor and review quality assurance in higher education institutions. CINNTE is the name of the current quality assurance review cycle and it measures institutional accountability with regard to the expectations set out in QQI’s quality assurance guidelines, and adherence to relevant QQI policies and procedures.

The South East Technological University (SETU) was the third technological university to complete the CINNTE review process in 2024, and QQI published SETU’s CINNTE review report in April 2025. As part of the CINNTE review follow-up process an institution is required to submit an implementation plan to QQI outlining how the institution plans to address the recommendations arising from the review. The implementation plan serves as a roadmap to guide efforts and to ensure that the review recommendations are systematically addressed. SETU is due to submit its implementation plan on 4th July 2025.

One year after the publication of the CINNTE review report an institution is asked to produce a follow-up report for submission to QQI. The follow-up report provides a detailed account of the actions taken, the outcomes achieved, and progress made in addressing the review findings and recommendations. SETU is due to submit its follow up report in April 2026.

In addition, QQI also monitors higher education institutions via its annual quality reporting process and biennial quality dialogue meetings. These processes will provide a further opportunity for QQI to review the progress being made by SETU in implementing its CINNTE review recommendations, to discuss any emerging issues, and to identify areas for further improvement.

Through these robust processes, QQI aims to continuously improve practices and to deliver the highest standards of quality assurance in Ireland’s higher education institutions.