Do not forget Roscommon in the Connacht final.
Sentiment score: 0.17
It is a high priority for me and my Department to support the development of high-quality and accessible tertiary education systems that reflect the full diversity of Irish society and ensure that all learners can access and successfully complete their education. Since the establishment of the first technological university in 2019, the Department has prioritised targeted investment of over €300 million in technological universities to ensure structural, high quality, inclusive education, training, research and innovation across the regions. As part of this funding, last year, my Department announced the targeted enhancement fund, which delivered €65.8 million for the technological sector and publicly funded specialist colleges. ATU operates nine campuses across the northern and western region. As of now, it is a region in transition, but thankfully, it is being reclassified as a more developed region. However, due to its lagging status, ATU was allocated €10.5 million from this fund over the next two years. The Deputy is particularly interested in the Technological University of the Shannon, TUS. It was the third technological university to be established and the first cross-regional technological university, with its main campus in Athlone. Since its establishment, it has considerably assisted higher education access, growing regional development and providing more opportunities to students, staff, business and enterprise, and local communities, serving communities in counties Westmeath, Limerick, Tipperary, Clare and Offaly. TUS has been allocated €6.3 million from this fund over the next two years. As the Deputy can see, this is a significant investment that is improving access to higher education in Offaly and the midlands.
Sentiment score: 0.30
I am pleased to say that the midlands are well served by Technological University of the Shannon because it offers students from Offaly and surrounding counties high-quality university education. What I am talking about in particular today are the tertiary programmes. They offer students the opportunity to begin a course in further education before transitioning to complete their degree in higher education. We have invested €4 million from budget 2026 towards the development of these programmes. In 2026 and 2027, Laois and Offaly ETB will be offering four tertiary pathways, in partnership with SETU and TUS, in programmes including business, technology and nursing. Students on these courses can spend the first year of study in their local education and training board before transitioning to higher education, with no fees, smaller classes and additional support while they are in the ETB.
Sentiment score: 0.19
I hear what the Deputy is saying. Tertiary education is a great pathway. It is such an opportunity for students. It is not within the CAO system, so it allows students to access tertiary education. They can start in their local ETB and, if they like, progress on to further education in third level institutions. That is available to students across the country - in Offaly just as well as anywhere else. TUS and SETU are the Deputy's main partners in all of this. That is where the third level institutions are. Of all the locations I visited in the country, the one that impressed me the most when it came to tertiary education was the national construction training campus in Mount Lucas. To me, that is a standout initiative. It offers training in areas like modern methods of construction and near-zero energy buildings. That is an example of regional education provision. It is so important for the region the Deputy represents.
Sentiment score: 0.26
I thank Deputy Scanlon. He has made representation on this issue to me on many occasions. To provide the background to this, in February 2025, under section 8(1) of the Technological Universities Act 2018, the Minister, Deputy Lawless, approved Atlantic Technological University’s request to acquire a 16.35 acre site near its campus, to be funded from existing reserves. However, the HEA has since confirmed that the purchase did not proceed. I will come back to that in a moment. Both Deputy Scanlon and I are aware of what has been happening on that. However, I want to assure the Deputy that I recognise the significant impact that the supply and affordability of student accommodation is having on students, including in Sligo. In March, the Department published the national student accommodation strategy, which sets out a clear pathway to improve access to higher education by addressing supply, viability and affordability challenges, with projections showing demand for around 42,000 additional beds over the next decade. The strategy addresses barriers to student accommodation development through a balanced approach. I will not go through the list but it is quite detailed. My Department has engaged extensively with technological universities including ATU Sligo, and both the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and I will be meeting them again this week. The Department has developed multiple programmes that will be brought forward on a phased basis this year through the newly established higher education institution student accommodation programme. I have spoken to the county manager in Sligo, who tells me Sligo County Council is in discussion with a private provider to see if it would develop the 16 acre site Deputy Scanlon mentioned in order to provide student accommodation. My most up-to-date information is that these discussions are ongoing.
Sentiment score: 0.17
I cannot disagree with anything the Deputy has said but I reiterate that in February 2025 the Minister granted ATU Sligo permission to proceed with the acquisition of that 16.35 acre site at Ardaghowen in County Sligo. The approval did not convey or imply approval for any proposed capital investment that ATU might be considering for the lands. ATU was directed to fund the cost of the acquisition from within its existing reserves. ATU Sligo did not progress with this site purchase. I know what the Deputy is saying about what the local authority is doing. As I said, it is my understanding that, as we speak, the local authority is in discussion with private providers to see if they could develop that site for student accommodation. Without being specific about it, right now that seems to be the best possible way forward.
Sentiment score: 0.24
I appreciate Deputy Scanlon's considered and reasonable approach to this. I am just as familiar as he is with the history, what has happened and the fact that we had student accommodation that is no longer available to students. A lot of people are extremely concerned about that. What the Deputy has said underlines the urgency to move forward with whatever mechanism we have to provide student accommodation in the shortest possible timeframe. As I said, the Minister gave that permission to ATU but it did not proceed with the purchase of the site and now Sligo County Council is actively looking at the site and what role it could play. It is great to see that our local authority is playing such a positive role in looking at the provision of student accommodation. Obviously, everything is in the initial stages so I cannot say anything more than that, but I can tell the Deputy they are working as best they can to ensure that student accommodation may be provided on the site through a private provider. Even so, I must insist we still have a long way to go on it.
Sentiment score: 0.32