Proposed Legislation
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-23
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James Lawless (FF), Kildare North

The Technological Universities, TU, Act is predicated on the creation of technological universities through the amalgamation of institutes of technology and by ITs coming together to form a technological university. That is the framework that is provided for in the current TU Act. The Act does not currently have a mechanism for the elevation of a single IT to become a university. That process is not catered for within the Act. The Act is for an amalgamation and coming together of different satellites to become one. It does not have a single elevation path.
In the case of Dundalk and Queen's, there are a number of unique aspects to the partnership, because of the North-South and cross-jurisdictional nature of it. That requires separate legislation. I intend to publish heads of Bill at the earliest opportunity, which will be very soon and perhaps as early as next week, and we will see the flow forward from it at that stage.
I share the ambition of IADT to achieve university status. I fully support it in doing that. I respect the rights of staff and, indeed, learners at the college to have their say in that process. That is the process I am also engaging in, working with the institute in parallel.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-23/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:54:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-23