Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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962. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his Department’s position on the recent announcement of Dundalk Institute of Technology’s agreement with Queen’s University Belfast. [65988/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I was delighted last week to announce the development of a strategic partnership between Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) and Queen’s University Belfast.

The proposed partnership between Dundalk Institute of Technology and Queen’s University Belfast as a landmark initiative with the potential to strengthen and advance higher education across the island. This proposal builds on the strong tradition of North–South collaboration fostered through the Shared Island initiative. As the first all-island initiative of its kind, the proposed partnership reflects the pivotal role higher education has in driving collaboration in research, innovation, teaching and learning, delivering benefits for students, educators and wider society.

My Department is working intensively with DKIT, the HEA, and colleagues across Government and the Northern Ireland system in support of this initiative. As the partnership progresses, protecting students, apprentices, staff and the academic mission in Dundalk is a priority and there will be close engagement with representative groups at every stage.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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963. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the new agreement between Dundalk IT and Queen’s University Belfast will have any impact on the fees charged to current or future students of Dundalk IT. [65989/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware of the recently announced strategic partnership between Dundalk IT (DkIT) and Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). This partnership is expected to cover key areas such as programme approval, quality assurance, and collaboration in research and innovation.

DkIT has a strong track record of delivering quality higher education provision in the North-East Region, and the proposed partnership will enhance the institute’s existing strengths while supporting the Government’s commitment to balanced regional development.

A central aspect of the proposal is that DkIT will remain an autonomous designated institution under the HEA Act 2022. Tuition fee decisions fall outside the scope of the partnership and remain under the control of DkIT. Students studying at DkIT will remain eligible for the fee subsidy schemes funded by my Department and the HEA, including the Free Fees Initiative, Springboard, and Apprenticeships.