204. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which his Department is positioning Ireland’s education, research and skills system as the “economic Ministry” he often refers to and to that end driving national competitiveness, productivity and long-term prosperity. [67812/25]

Sentiment score: 0.13

As the title of the Minister's Department demonstrates, it has a very broad remit. Of course, education, research and innovation are the key elements in the bedrock of any economy. Importantly, I welcome the fact that the Minister is supporting further and higher education throughout the regions. When the late President Patrick Hillery, as a member of the Fianna Fáil Government in the 1960s, laid out the vision and strategy for the development of the regional technical colleges, it was always on the basis of bringing education to the regions and ensuring they would derive benefits and drive on the economy to eliminate the disparity in economic development that existed at national level at that time.

Sentiment score: 0.47

I was very glad that the Minister was able to accept my invitation to attend Cavan Institute and see it first hand, meeting the students, staff and board of management. There is a vibrancy to Cavan Institute and also Cavan Youthreach. Oftentimes, Youthreach does not get the attention it deserves. In Cavan and Monaghan, I see it as a pathway to further education and on to higher education as well. I was delighted that day in Cavan that the Minister was able to state very clearly that he was very anxious to advance the proposal to provide major additional permanent accommodation at the institute's existing campus at Cathedral Road, Cavan. I have a particular affinity with Cavan Institute. I was involved from the beginning with its establishment and I was the chair of the first board of management. I have seen it go from strength to strength and, at all times, the institute has worked in partnership with local enterprise and the local community. It is about working together, and I want to see, as the Minister has heard me say before, more co-operation on an all-Ireland basis in relation to the provision of further education.

Sentiment score: 0.28

I was delighted at the Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science a number of weeks ago when the Minister was able to tell us about the progress made in developing the strategic partnership between Dundalk Institute of Technology and Queen's University. The Minister was able to say the words, "We will have an all-Ireland university". Those of us, particularly from the Border region, who have advocated for this development were thrilled. Practical things are being done. We are not talking about waving flags and citizens' assemblies. We have the Minister doing practical things. In the past, a former president of Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dr. Michael Mulvey, along with the then chair of the board of governors Councillor Clifford Kelly put the idea forward of more collaboration with education institutions in Northern Ireland and identified Queen's University as a very worthwhile potential partner for Dundalk Institute of Technology. Those people did some preparatory work. As a former member of the board of governors of Dundalk Institute of Technology, Senator Diarmuid Wilson was very supportive of the work of Councillor Clifford Kelly and Dr. Michael Mulvey when they were advocating for that all-Ireland cross-Border co-operation when it was not as fashionable as it is today.

Sentiment score: 0.23