Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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951. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to report the number of Tus which failed to reach a satisfactory level of performance in their most recent annual report under the agreement, as per the strategy and performance dialogue in conjunction with the system performance framework. [34390/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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In 2023 the Higher Education Authority published the new System Performance Framework 2023-2028 which sets out the parameters under which designated institutions of higher education can identify their contribution to the achievement of national strategy, as appropriate to each institution’s mission, scale, location, and strategic plan. This helps the HEA to assess system health, and manage risks and opportunities.

Under this framework each institution has a Performance Agreement with the HEA in which they identify their high-level objectives for the period of 2024 – 2028 in line with the pillars of the System Performance Framework (Teaching and Learning; Research and Innovation; Access and Participation; Engagement).

In Performance Agreements, each institution sets their own objectives, in consultation with the HEA, which ensures HEIs identify objectives that are strategically relevant and appropriate to the institution's context and mission. Each objective has quantitative indicators and targets, meaning that progress towards objectives can be measured over time.

The objectives, indicators and targets selected varies by institution and are responsive to the institution's specific context. For example, HEIs may set targets related to embedding transversal skills in provision, seek to improve student experience of teaching and learning, look to increase participation among certain groups, or aim to increase their proportion of Open Access research.

Performance Agreements are published on the HEA website to promote the transparency of the System Performance Framework process and ensure accountability across the higher education system - .

HEI reporting on Performance Agreements will commence in 2025 (Q3 submission of self-evaluation reports) on the previous academic year (2024-2025).

Each institution will report annually on the objectives in their performance agreement in a self-evaluation report, which will be reviewed in a process of strategy and performance dialogue with the HEA. This process includes the submission of an impact assessment case study which highlights significant contributions. These case studies are linked to a positive funding mechanism which rewards excellence.

The system performance framework is not a mechanism for determining the overall success or failure of an institution. The aim of the framework is both to increase transparency and accountability for quality and performance in the higher education sector, and to give the sector an opportunity to demonstrate the many ways it contributes to Ireland’s economy and society.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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952. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how many expressions of interest were received during the HEA's two EoI processes to establish the capacity for expansion in training places for key public sector skills. [34391/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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In October 2022 the Higher Education Authority (HEA) conducted an expression of interest process for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) interested in building capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary. The HEA received 39 expressions of interest from 15 HEIs. An independent expert panel were appointed to assess these submissions. A report was issued to the then Minister FHERIS 31st March 2023 for his consideration in collaboration with the then Minister for Health and Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine. Several proposals have been advanced from this process, including two new veterinary medicine programmes. and new pharmacy, dentistry and medicine programmes.

In April 2025 an interdepartmental working group (IDWG) was established chaired by DFHERIS and including officials from Department of Health, the HSE, the HEA, The Department of Children, Equality and Disability and the Department of Education and Youth. Their remit was to expand the provision of training places for health and social care professions (HSCP) disciplines.

At the instruction of DFHERIS, the HEA conducted an Expression of Interest Process opening on April 14th and closing on April 25th. This sought to identify capacity to increase provision in HSCP training places for nine priority areas, identified by the Department of Health, on existing higher education courses. The HEA received 24 submissions across all nine professions. Following consideration of the results of this Expression of Interest, I, together with my Ministerial colleagues in the Departments of Health, Children, Equality and Disability, and Education and Youth, sought and received Government approval to expand training places in critical HSCP disciplines to include an additional 320 student places in 2025, and a further 141 in subsequent years.