2026-04-23

269. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding his plans to bring Marino Institute of Education under the remit of his Department rather than the Department of education; the timeline envisaged for any such change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22066/26]

This question is to ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding his plans to bring the Marino Institute of Education under the remit of his Department rather than the Department of Education and Youth; the timeline envisaged for any such change; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am very familiar with the Marino Institute of Education, notwithstanding that it is under the remit of the Department of Education and Youth. I recently visited it with Deputies Brabazon, Heneghan and Ó Muirí. The college serves a vital function in producing primary school teachers. It also has a wonderful ethos in terms of its embrace of an teanga Gaeilge and iománaíocht agus peile. The institute has had a variety of sporting achievements. The cultúr there spoke very strongly to me when I visited. It was very evident in the institution. I do not want to put it too strongly because, again, some of these negotiations and engagements can be somewhat sensitive, but I am aware that Marino has engaged with at least one third level institution in the co-awarding of degrees. I think it is not a secret that it is Trinity College Dublin. An interest has been expressed in exploring a closer collaboration or partnership. I am not in any way opposed to that, but neither am I in a position to mandate it. Regarding the next steps, Marino, if it wishes to, is freely entitled to continue as it is as a stand-alone, independent college within the system. Equally, if it wishes to achieve an alignment with a third level higher education institution, it is perfectly entitled to do so as well. As I set out on the day, without going into the details on the floor of the Dáil, a number of steps are to be taken towards that, a process which ultimately means the college's destiny lies with itself and whatever putative partner it may wish to engage with. I have set out what needs to be done if it wishes to follow that path. It is an autonomous institution. I think that has been regarded as helpful within the college. If it does wish to take the next steps, it knows what to do and I would certainly be happy to engage as that progresses.

I will clarify that I am asking this question on my own part, because I discovered the lacuna that Marino is not under the aegis of the Minister’s Department. This query has not been requested by Marino. As the Minister said, it is a fine institution. My wife is a graduate of it. She did her degree there. I am also struck by the sheer range of programmes it offers. It does not just offer primary school teacher training programmes. It also offers the early childhood education programme and a further education and training programme. I was puzzled, therefore, when I learned it was not under the aegis of the Minister’s Department. The Minister’s answer would suggest that the college needs to designate itself appropriately to be under the aegis of the Minister’s Department, as opposed to it falling outside its remit. Could the Minister go into a bit more detail about where the lines lie in respect of it falling under his remit? If the college were to decide to take the path referred to, and, again, I have not spoken to the institution about this issue, what sort of timeframe might see it falling under the remit of the Minister?

A number of institutions in the State are perhaps finding they struggle. I am not saying Marino is in this category, but there are some smaller institutions that may find they do not enjoy critical mass and wish to partner with a larger institution. It is one of the reasons the technological universities were created. We had multiple institutes of technology around the country, and joining those together meant the whole was greater than the sum of the parts. That was very much the philosophy that led to the creation of the technological universities. The process was assisted by an OECD report to ensure that the criteria for gaining university status were being met in all cases. To be fair, there have been some excellent examples of research innovation and high-quality education across all the TUs. It is beyond doubt at this stage that they have not only met those targets but surpassed them, and this is why they are technological universities today. Some of the institutions, however, for whatever reason, were not suitable or did not engage in that process. Earlier, we heard a debate about the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, and I absolutely share its ambitions for university status. It is the aspiration of Dundalk Institute of Technology, along with Queen's University, to become a university college there.

I apologise, but we have run out of time in this section. I am sure we all did not think we would have got through so many questions, but we do need to move on to the next section.