Senator Aisling Dolan - Strong Voice, New Vision.
€5 million funding has been allocated to Athlone IT & Limerick IT to help them in their progression towards Technological University status, a Fine Gael Senator has said.
Senator Dolan said: “I welcome this funding of €5 million for the Athlone IT-Limerick IT Consortium –which will encourage growth and attract investment in Roscommon & East Galway. Athlone IT is less than 30 minutes to Roscommon & 20 minutes to Ballinasloe. As noted by the consortium, they aim to develop a contemporary and vibrant Technological University which will connect knowledge creation with industry partnerships to grow and support collaboration. I congratulate the teams working together across Athlone IT & Limerick IT to make this happen for the West, Midlands and Mid-West Region.
The creation of Technological Universities is a key commitment within the Programme for Government and will deliver significant advantages to national priorities in relation to Higher Education access, research-informed teaching and learning, as well as supporting enterprise and regional development.
“The unparalleled national Government investment of €34.33 million this year and € 90 million over the lifetime of the Fund, will establish TUs across all regions capable of delivering national strategic objectives in accordance with the TURN report vision.
“The TURN report “Connectedness & Collaboration enabled by Connectivity”, was published in October 2019 and sets out the case for a State change in higher education reform for the delivery of national strategic priorities.
“This is to be achieved through the connectedness (particularly at regional level), collaboration and connectivity of technological universities and their unique delivery of programmes across the full range of the National Framework of Qualifications from apprenticeships to doctoral degrees.”
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris said: “This investment will help deliver for the benefit of communities in the West, Midlands, Mid-West and Ireland internationally.”
